Posted on Nov 29, 2017
Face It, The Mighty U.S. Aircraft Carrier is Finished
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This article brings up some solid points on the future of the aircraft carrier. It is a cumbersome piece of equipment that is our main projection of power, but is there a viable alternative to it? We've heard the arguments that the B-52 was obsolete just to be proven wrong, Armor and Cav are bygones, and to some Infantry isn't the "Queen" it used to be with future battles using ones and zero's to strongly affect the battlefield. Are we still ahead of the game, or are we sticking to what we've got in place just to save face knowing it's wrong?
Face It, The Mighty U.S. Aircraft Carrier is Finished
Posted from theamericanconservative.comPosted in these groups: Aircraft Carriers
Technology
Technology
Posted 7 y ago
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There may be a time in the future that I would agree with this article. In a time of asymmetrical warfare as we are in currently, being able to move your airfield is critical. AC Carriers will go the way of the Battleships, but most of us won’t be around to see it. Say a quick prayer for any country that takes out a carrier, our many missile submarines would be real irate. Glad to hear from you Swannie, I was recently wondering where you have been.
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SN Greg Wright
Agreed, Master Chief, but it isn't the missile bullshit that's going to kill them. It's evolving warfighting capability. In my mind, simply put: Drones. Swarms of them. Autonomous. Packed by the thousands into a hull half the size of a Nimitz carrier.
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Ehh these articles ALWAYS fail to take into account countermeasures that are very robust and real, and not at all completely known to the general public, or these pundits.
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SSG Warren Swan
Very true. But it still raises a solid question. Battle as it’s been done is evolving. Are we going with it, or sinking money and recourses into traditional methods of warfare that are moving away? The battleship was seen as the power of a nation and where did they all go? The other services aren’t much better in their means. It seems we’re reactionary versus proactive in anticipating the next battlefield. I think they serve a valuable purpose but I’m biased as all hell
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SN Greg Wright
SSG Warren Swan - Well the thing is that I happen to agree that Carriers are obsolete, but NOT because of this famed, mythical missile. No, they're going to be obsolete because swarms of unmanned drones that are much lighter and inexpensive is the way of the future, and such carrier doesn't need to be anything near like what we have now. So I give supercarriers 15, 20 more years, then there's just gonna be droneships. Nothing to do with Chinese ballistic capabilities.
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SSG Warren Swan
SN Greg Wright - What happens if like we usually do, have everything made in Taiwan (aka Chinese), and try to save a buck? Who makes better drones than the lowest bidder?
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I'm not sure that carriers are as indefensible as this article supposes. However, carriers are vulnerable to a far more likely threat; the failure of the US economy to support them. Yes, we've an impressive fleet of carriers and their attendant task force members, but can we afford to maintain, man, and deploy them? That is the question. Also, how relevant are they. It seems that the Navy focuses on searching for a high tech version of WWII while today's enemies are focuses on fighting asymmetrical wars for which carriers are of dubious value.
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SN Greg Wright
As I said below, I agree that carriers, as they are now, are the last iteration, but not because of the Chinese mythical missile. No, it's because warfighting is going to move to swarms of light, relatively inexpensive, autonomous drones. Sea, air AND land. Maybe even replace infantry, eventually.
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SSG Warren Swan
Are you looking short term or long term affordability? The current admin wants to project a larger robust force across the board, and has buy in from the chiefs. So for now, it would appear (depending on the final budget constraints), were going to somehow finance them, and make more. Hell three carrier groups in the same AO? Not an expert, but I foresee another massive buildup like what happened after 9/11, and then sometime soon the bottom falls out, and "can we afford this" really comes into play. Sequestration pt2. Greg is right; at some point, these heavy items will become relics of the past and electronic warfare on all fronts will be the word of the future. Cheaper, less loss of life, and scarily....easier. AI is coming on strong and the jokes we made two decades ago will play out. I doubt I'll be here to see it.
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