[Joe Brower]

The movie "The Sum of All Fears" showed very clearly how an attack could be mounted on a carrier, using the time-honored communist-bloc tactic "volume of fire".

In my Navy says, this was known, and not with a smile. The phalanx is good, but enough incoming means the carrier's systems would not get them all, and a couple hits are all you need.

[mj1234]

Also- and this is the biggest issue.

STEALTH- I believe China, Russia even Iran
will have mastered some of the Stealth technology.
mounted as a swarm we may not be able to detect,
track,and engage fast enough-

[central_va]

In my Navy says, this was known, and not with a smile. The phalanx is good, but enough incoming means the carrier's systems would not get them all, and a couple hits are all you need.

Ok, by this logic, it is pretty easy to shoot down a plane, therefore we should use combat aircraft. This non-logic is stupid.

[rmlew]

The movie showed Tu-22M Backfire firing what I presumed to be AS-4 Kitchens ASM, or Kh-15 from what looked like 20 miles.

That is not how an attack would occur. For one thing, US carriers have E-2 Hawkeyes (naval AWACS) and keep a combat air patrol near enemy territory. Also, those SPY-1 radars on the Ticonderoga cruisers and Arleigh Burkes are not just for show.

The ChiComs have a copy of the Tu-16, not the Tu22m. I'd be more concerned with an ICBM and submarines.