The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, front, and the guided-missile cruisers USS Philippine Sea and USS Gettysburg participate in a group sail. All three ships are part of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group and are underway conducting training operations in the Atlantic Ocean. Navy Visual News Service.Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Bash
Harry J. Kazianis, National Interest: Can the U.S. Navy Stop Aircraft Carriers From Becoming Old 'Battleships'?
Let’s face facts. It hasn’t been a good couple of years for aircraft carriers—specifically American aircraft carriers.
The battle tested symbol of American power seems besieged from all sides. Some say the current crop of flattops are getting overworked and simply worn out. Others say adding newer carriers comes at too high of a cost. Various other pundits feel they are just too vulnerable—thanks to Chinese, Russian and Iranian anti-ship weapons. Some say the carrier air wing of today just doesn’t have the range to fight the wars of the future. All of this is summed up by many prominent voices into a dire warning: the venerable symbol of U.S. power projection—if crucial enhancements are not made—could soon become the ‘battleships’ of yesteryear.
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WNU Editor: The US Navy is placing a lot of faith that these anti-missile systems will be more than enough to defend America's flat-tops from enemy attack. I can only hope for the sake of the crew that it will do its job.
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