Aircraft carriers, once the undisputed champions of naval supremacy, are facing a period of scrutiny and reassessment.
The introduction of new missile technologies and the evolving nature of global conflicts have sparked a vigorous debate on their relevance in today’s defense strategies.
The United States Navy’s reliance on aircraft carriers as a cornerstone of its naval force has been a tradition dating back to World War II.
A key symbol of power projection, these floating airbases have been instrumental in establishing and maintaining America’s global presence.
The USS Ford, with a whopping construction cost of $13.3 billion and an annual maintenance bill of $1 billion, represents the pinnacle of American carrier capabilities.
The Ford-class carriers cost nearly double the Nimitz-class ships they replace, but their capabilities are not twice as high.
Yet, proponents argue that the obsolescence of carriers is far from imminent.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Jan. 27, 2010) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting sea trials. George H.W. Bush will return to homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. to begin the workup cycle towards deployment after an extensive seven-month post shakedown availability and selective restrictive availability trials. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Jason Winn/Released)
Lessons from history teach us that the gap between the emergence of new weapons and their effective use in war can be significant.
PERSIAN GULF (Jan. 23, 2008) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), left, performs a replenishment at sea with the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81). Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 are on a scheduled deployment in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jay C. Pugh (Released)
Moreover, countermeasures to protect carriers are numerous and evolving. From their inherent mobility, evading missile strikes, to sophisticated cyberwarfare and air defenses, carriers are not sitting ducks.
Their sheer presence as a deterrent remains potent. The lethality of aircraft carriers stems from the weapons they carry, with Nimitz- and Ford-class carriers armed with strike fighters like F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornets, along with anti-aircraft and missile defenses.
Indian Ocean (Mar. 15, 2005) – The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) underway in the Indian Ocean prior to flight operations. The Carl Vinson Strike Group is currently on deployment to promote peace and stability and respond to emergent events overseas. USS Carl Vinson will end its deployment with a homeport shift to Norfolk, Va., and will conduct a three-year refuel and complex overhaul. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Dusty Howell (RELEASED)
Another key aspect of carriers’ lethality is their ability to sustain attacks. Aircraft carriers’ weapons can strike numerous targets on land or at sea daily during conflicts.
As the U.S. Navy transitions from Nimitz to Ford-class carriers, the introduction of cutting-edge F-35C jets, advanced radar planes, and the MQ-25 unmanned tanker promises to further bolster the carrier air wing’s capabilities.
These advancements ensure that carriers will continue to be a geopolitical weapon of war for decades.
Nonetheless, the budgetary decisions and strategic direction in the coming years will be pivotal.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (Sept. 8, 2010) Tugboats guide the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) on the Elizabeth River to its new berth at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Dwight D. Eisenhower will begin a six-month Planned Incremental Availability in October to refurbish and conduct intensive maintenance on shipboard systems. Dwight D. Eisenhower recently completed a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
The FY 2025 Defense Budget reveals plans to delay the procurement of the next carrier, which raises concerns about sustaining the industrial base and carrier fleet size.
Relevant articles:
– U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers Are Nowhere Near Obsolete, The National Interest
– The US is not serious about aircraft carriers—or their industrial base, Defense One
– The Carrier’s Role is Narrowing, U.S. Naval Institute