[MinorityRepublican]

We can still use our aircraft carriers for the time being. But they'll be no longer the "lead ships".

That would be the motherships with drones.

Once all the drones are destroyed, it's safe to deploy the aircraft carriers in the hostile zone.

[woodpusher]

We can still use our aircraft carriers for the time being. But they'll be no longer the "lead ships".

Carriers are never the lead ships, i.e. out front. They travel with a large number of escort ships surrounding the carrier. There may be a submarine as well.