The Global Arms Race Is Now Shifting To Building Big-Ticket Naval Platforms

USS John C. Stennis is replenished at sea

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Jan. 8, 2013) A helicopter assigned to the Eightballers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 delivers supplies to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as it makes its approach alongside the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) during a replenishment-at-sea. John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Armando Gonzales/Released)

Big-Ticket Arms Race For Supremacy At Sea -- The National

When it comes to "big ticket" items, they don't come much bigger than an aircraft carrier.

Although still five years from entering service, the price tag for the USS Gerald R Ford, the first of three new American carriers, has already jumped 18 per cent in four years to US$12.3 billion (Dh45.18bn), according to the US defence department.

And now, despite these times of austerity, suddenly everyone wants one. China is the latest nation to join the club, but existing carrier owners India, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States all have ships on the stocks.

But it is in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific where the consequences of this new arms race will be felt. At stake is a change in the naval balance of power.

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My Comment: The days of the U.S. having a monopoly on aircraft carriers is probably coming to an end .... but it will take a sustained effort of a few decades from emerging powers like China and India to catch up .... and even then .... they may decide not to build such a fleet in view of how expensive it is to maintain a carrier group.