Jeff a question if I may. Without loose lips sinking ships. Do we have enough carrier groups for your liking?
With the F-35B going on the LHA and LHDs, which will allow them to become, in essence Escort Carriers too...yes.
Particularly with the Ford class, despite the naysayers...a double yes.
The USS America outfitted with 20+ F-35Bs will be as powerful or more so than almost any other carrier the other nations have.
So, we wll have 10-11 full carriers, and 9-10 of the LHD/LHAs that can be made over into powerful carriers as needed.
Nobody else comes even close.
Right now, India has two (and ill make it three ultimately) and China is about to have two.
China will ultimately build five or six.
Between the two types I reference above, we could have 15-16 available at a time if necessary...so yes.
Particularly when you look at the numbers and types of aircraft we have in the air wings.