Carriers are not obsolete. However, they are out-ranged in the South China Sea, due to Obama allowing the Chinese to get a huge edge in Area Denial cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and hypersonic technology.
Only since Trump came in, are we attempting to close the gap. There will be no massive land war in re: to China/US.
It will be a Naval and Air battle in the South China Sea. Right now we will win, but it will be very costly. China will have a huge edge in Area Denial missiles until at least 2024-25.
The navy is just now getting online with the stealthy fuel tankers which will fill the gap and get our F18E/Fs and F35Cs within range.
I blame Obama and also the top echelon Navy planners for allowing this to happen. Right now, the Navy would have te rely on long range strategic strike and standoff bombers to deliver the shots that will knock out China’s surface Navy and key strategic bases in the SCS and in southern China.
Do I take you to mean the US Navy will have to rely on the US Air Force?
Oh, horrors, no! A fate worse than death, the US Navy will need help from our Air Force to win its war?
Say it ain't so! ;-)
Otherwise, all joking aside, I agree with your post.
rbmillerjr: "The navy is just now getting online with the stealthy fuel tankers which will fill the gap and get our F18E/Fs and F35Cs within range."
Cool! Stealthy fuel tankers sounds neat to me.
Maybe the non-stealthy F18s can hide behind the stealthy tankers as they fly into battle?
Sorry... I'm sure they've thought all this out... ;-)