1.) Back in the last '90s, a US Navy carrier battle group trained with their Russian counterparts in a simulated joint air-land-sea battle. This included carrier operations. The Russians had only ONE pilot that had ever landed on a carrier deck for real. The rest had only done it on land 'between the stripes'. It took that one pilot a couple of weeks to get the large majority of his fellow pilots to attempt a carrier landing in their SU-27s. After that, the pilots were still reluctant to do so, and would only conduct air ops during daylight hours under VFR rules. The Russians were completely amazed when, on their best day they unloaded their aircraft carrier of all 25 (I think it was 25) jets in just over 8 hours. 8 HOURS!!! For 25 jets. Then the Americans unloaded all 90 combat aircraft in 45 minutes. In the dark. Under tactical lighting no less. (Read as NVGs and IR lighting ONLY.) And to top it off, the Americans brought them all back in just over an hour. The Russian aircraft chose to land on shore, returning the following day, with landing ops taking over 10 hours. Let the Russians teach the ChiComs all they know about running a carrier. PLEASE.
The ChiComs aren't the only game in town when it comes to building new stuff. The DD-21 class destroyers are getting through the planning stages (finally), so that 'littoral' warship is coming. Included below is a rendition of it, as well as some more info.
There is an added level of stealth for this (and all vessels, tanks, aircraft, and structures) that will soon be employed forces wide. I won't be the one to spill it though.
The DD-21 Zumwalt-class Land Attack Destroyer replaces the DD 963 and FFG 7 Classes of destroyer and frigate in today's inventory. The DD 21 System will provide an advanced level of land attack in support of the ground campaign and contribute to naval, joint and combined battlespace dominance in littoral operations. The DD 21 will be a true fleet destroyer, capable of handling any mission that a Fleet commander might ask, from key wartime missions in land attack and undersea warfare to the equally important presence missions, noncombatant evacuations, escort, and diplomatic missions that have been closely associated with Navy destroyers for almost a century.
Like today's Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, DD 21 will be a multi-mission ship, capable of providing forward presence and deterrence, and operating as a vital part of naval, joint and combined maritime forces to gain battlespace dominance in littoral operations. But unlike today's destroyers, DD 21's primary mission will be land attack support for ground forces. Armed with 5-inch/62 extended range guided munitions and 155mm Howitzers, the ship will provide naval gunfire support up to 100 miles inland. A land attack missile system will extend support between 100 and 200 miles. Tactical Tomahawk missiles will be able to reach targets from 200 to 1,600 nautical miles.
DD 21 will have the most advanced undersea warfare combat systems ever installed on a surface combatant. The ship's hangar will house attack helicopters as well as a system of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). In concert with other ships, DD 21 will contribute surveillance and force to establish and maintain local air superiority.
The DD 21 program emphasizes more than just improved offensive and defensive capabilities. Because DD 21's design will incorporate only the most advanced systems and materials on the market today, ships of the class can remain battle-ready with minimal maintenance and greatly reduced manpower. Design characteristics such as submarine-like survivability and a significantly reduced radar signature, achieved through a fully integrated topside design, will significantly expand the mission of the surface combatant.
As with previous destroyer designs, DD 21 will be focused on the key mission areas facing the nation and the Navy during its design phase. The Navy believes it needs a destroyer that is capable of exceptional performance in the littoral regions of the world and one that can provide significant support to forces ashore. As a result, DD 21 must excel in mission areas that include land attack and maritime dominance. DD 21 will provide an advanced level of land attack in support of the ground campaign, while contributing to naval, joint, and combined battlespace dominance in littoral operations. Given the large inventory of upgraded CG 47 and new DDG 51 Class ships that will be in the fleet by the time the first few DD 21 class ships begin to join the fleet after 2008, a robust self defense capability in air defense will be sufficient for this ship.