“I can’t imagine the United States is sitting back and not on the cutting edge of all kinds of military technology.”
The United States was also at the cutting edge of military technology when Pearl Harbor happened. What made it possible was complacency, underestimating the enemy, and outright stupidity.
The fact is that our carriers are, and have been for a long time, quite vulnerable to first-tier opponents.
Like I said in another thread, with that trouble in the China sea, I am concerned. I always assumed China was no match for us on the seas.