Is the Era of the Aircraft Carrier Over? | The National Interest Blog
There’s an increasingly big mismatch between the range at which US carriers can strike their targets and the range at which the carriers themselves can be attacked. That mismatch makes the ‘airfield at sea’ role that US carriers have played for the past few decades much more dangerous.
An obvious answer for keeping carriers relevant in light of these developments is increasing the range of the CAW. Aircraft with the range necessary to do deep strike missions launched from beyond the range of the enemy’s A2AD capabilities is vital to the continued survival of the carrier. Outfitting the F-35C with external or conformal fuel tanks is one option, albeit an imperfect one—adding these tanks can alter the aircraft’s radar cross section and potentially make it more detectable. Adding long range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the CAW is another option. The MQ-25A Stingray is just the tip of the iceberg in this regard, offering a long range aerial refuelling system that can refuel the F-35C in contested territory, expanding the F-35C’s deep strike potential. Developing a long range strike UAV is a logical next step in giving the aircraft carrier the reach and punch it needs to survive in this new threat environment.
Related/Background:
- spendergast: Shoemaker evolving requirements and mission for MQ-25 UAS Carrier Fit
- Carrier-Based UAVs to Begin Flying in 2020s -- The Motley Fool
- MQ-25A Stingray Official Name for First U.S. Navy Carrier UAV
- New Chinese UAVs Could Support Anti-Carrier Missile | Defense content from Aviation Week
- spendergast: China Unveils New Divine Eagle UAV with A2/AD Capability
- USN expects more development of MQ-25 'CBARS' timeline this year
- SEAPOWER CNO: CBARS Should Be a ‘Poster Child’ for Acquisition
- spendergast: UCLASS mission ISR or Strike? How about Tanker?
- Chief Naval Officer: Russia and China can't stop US aircraft carriers - Business Insider
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