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.
Good info, thanks. Truth be told, that was my immediate thought when I saw the scene in question -- "Where's the CAP?". But we are talking Hollywood, after all...
My point was the "volume of fire" doctrine, and how well this ancient tactic still serves to overwhelm the latest, most cutting-edge technologies. It has served lesser forces on many continents in many ways.
One could even view a tactical nuke as an extension of the "volume of fire" concept -- one nuke delivered aboard something like a Shkval torpedo, and it's adios, carrier group.
And as for subs, well, we did have a ChiCom sub surface right alongside one of our carriers during an exercise three years ago. A carrier group needs to be able to detect that sort of thing at any time, not just when on a war-footing.