What Comes After the Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier?

[rangerrebew]

March 7, 2020

What Comes After the Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier?

The U.S. military is conducting two separate studies trying to decide what should come after the current class of giant, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The consensus could be … more giant, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Or the Pentagon could double down on a concept that has become popular in recent years.

by David Axe Follow @daxe on Twitter L

 

The consensus could be … more giant, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Or the Pentagon could double down on a concept that has become popular in recent years. Small, non-nuclear “light carriers.”


https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/what-comes-after-nuclear-powered-aircraft-carrier-130817

[PeteS in CA]

One consideration will be that non-nuclear "light carriers" will require refueling while Nimitz and Ford class carriers do not. Obviously, the USN already has non-nuclear ships, but abandoning nuclear carriers would add to the demand for auxiliaries and onshore fueling installations, and make such auxiliaries and installations an even higher value target.

[skeeter]

The author makes the case for super carriers citing their superior capabilities ship for ship - an alternative POV would be several light carriers being deployed together in a task force in place of a super carrier providing equal capability and more overall flexibility as well as offering better survivability for the whole.

[Fishrrman]

The question:
"What Comes After the Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier?"

The answer:
Nuclear-tipped low-flying cruise missiles.

Next question...?

[Smokin Joe]

The question:
"What Comes After the Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier?"

The answer:
Nuclear-tipped low-flying cruise missiles.

Next question...?

Gee whiz....a wake. (At least as long as they are in motion).


The next step are the drone motherships...