[FreedomProtector]

Beautiful ship. Thanks for the post.


I wonder how long, if ever, it will be until the large aircraft carrier is obsolete.

Multiple small stealth ships carrying a smaller number of planes with VTOL (example one variant of Joint Strike Fighter) seem make a compelling case at least initially.

[Jeff Head]

There have been several studies doen on smaller Sea Control Carriers (which many smaller countries are adopting), and on a concept called the Corsair, which would be a very small carrier employing maybe half a dozen F-35Bs.

After all was said and done, given the mission profile required, the US Navy and our planners have (in my estimation rightly so) decided to go forward with the large deck nuclear carriers for the forseeable future...at least 50+ years. These carriers will continue to get provide more and more capability, be more and more efficient, be less manpower intensive, be more stealthy, and be more modern/furutristic as time goes on.

[Jeff Head]

...I just might add, that in my own estimation, we need 14-16 of them rather thanb 12...or the 10 some are proposing.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I wonder how long, if ever, it will be until the large aircraft carrier is obsolete.

CVN's are awfully high-value targets.

When I heard the Navy praising the Reagan and projecting a 50 year operational lifetime for it, I couldn't help wondering if carriers will still be militarily viable in 2050. Stranger things have happened, I suppose . . .