The U.S. Navy Is An Aircraft Carrier Superpower For A Reason

As a former teenage sailor who served on an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War, I was interested in Peter Suciu’ piece on aircraft carriers in The National Interest, an online publication that focuses on defense issues, national security, military affairs, foreign policy and U.S. politics.

Including amphibious assault ships (LHA), there are now 47 active aircraft carriers in the world, operated by fourteen navies. More than a third of the flattops are in service with the United States Navy, which maintains eleven nuclear-powered CATOBAR carriers, including ten Nimitz-class and one Gerald R. Ford-class.

In addition, the U.S. Navy operates two America-class LHAs of a planned 11; as well as seven Wasp-class ships – while an eighth was seriously damaged by fire and subsequently decommissioned last year.

The current U.S. fleet of Nimitz-class carriers will also be followed into service and replaced on a one-for-one basis by future carriers of the Gerald R. Ford-class, which are more automated in an effort to reduce the amount of funding required to maintain and operate the vessels.

In its 2018 report to Congress, the Navy stated its intention to maintain a 12 CVN force as part of its 30-year acquisition plan.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

The U.S. Navy Is An Aircraft Carrier Superpower for a Reason | The National Interest