Is The U.S. Navy About To Adopt A Policy Of Building Smaller Carriers For The Future?

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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

Kris Osborn, Scout Warrior: Navy Contemplates Results of a Future Aircraft Carrier Study - Will New, Smaller Carriers Emerge in the Future?

The Navy is analyzing the results of an extensive study into the future of aircaft carriers - will the Navy change shape, design or size of its future carriers? Do modern weapons make the carrier, in its current configuration, too vulnerable and therefore obsolete? What will the Navy recommend?

The Navy may change the size, shape, technological configuration and mission characteristics of its aircraft carriers in the future after careful service and think tank study of the emerging global threat environment, senior service officials said.

Senior Navy officials worked with the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments to explore whether alternative configurations, engineering models, shapes, sizes and technologies were needed to address anticipated future threats to the platforms.

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WNU Editor: This is what I expect .... a high/low mix of traditional carriers along with new, more agile smaller carriers. Ona side note, here is a good read .... 355-ship Navy: Big opportunity but big challenges (Hugh Lessig, Daily Press).