Saturday, September 19, 2015

Will China's Aircraft Carriers Be A Threat To The U.S. Navy?

(Click on Image to Enlarge)
The aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), USS Enterprise (CVN 65), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) are in port at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., the world’s largest naval station. Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ryan J. Courtade, Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ernest R. Scott, and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin J. Steinberg

Dave Majumdar, National Interest: Chinese Aircraft Carriers: A Nightmare for the U.S. Navy?

In the decades since the end of the Second World War, the U.S. Navy’s carrier strike groups have been the dominant force across the world’s oceans. Even the Soviet Union never really managed to challenge the U.S. Navy’s mastery of the seas. But as of late, there is growing concern that China’s People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) may be stepping up to the plate.

The Soviets mainly focused their efforts on a “sea denial” strategy using a combination of Backfire bombers, submarines and surface combatant armed with long-range anti-ship missiles. The People’s Republic of China also seemed to be focusing purely on developing an anti-access strategy using similar methodology. But like the Soviets toward the end of the Cold War, the Chinese seem to be intent on developing a blue water surface fleet that might one day be able to challenge the U.S. Navy on the high seas.

Previous Post: Should The U.S. Navy Be Worried That The Chinese Navy Now Has An Aircraft Carrier?

WNU Editor: Maybe in 20 years .... maybe.

1 comment:

RRH said...

A threat to the US Navy? One on one? No way.

A threat to US vassals (Phillipines, Japan etc.)? A tool to make great "mischief" while Washington is pre-occupied in other theatres?

Absolutely.


China's ability to project power is growing. Some of the more "lippy" US clients in her neighbour hood, and further sway, might want to tone it down a bit.