New Technologies Aboard our Newest Ships
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By Kevin Miller
July 16, 2020
Within naval circles, there is broad agreement that the United States benefits from and must continue to field aviation-capable warships.
Regarding the aircraft carrier class, this agreement narrows as critics deride them as expensive (no argument) and dismiss them as mere floating targets in today's naval environment (not supportable with fact). Disagreements and studies about the size and mission of these ships have persisted for some 50 years, but each time, when weighing speed and endurance, payload, sea-keeping, survivability and combat effectiveness, a nuclear-powered ship of roughly 100,000 tons capable of handling ~75 aircraft is the answer.
The United States Navy has in commission 11 such ships – "big-deck nukes" – that are the centerpiece of our naval combat power. We are currently building three more, and another has been ordered. Adversaries respect them if not fear them, and allies are comforted by their routine operations in all the world's oceans. France also operates a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, with plans for one and possibly two more.
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2020/07/16/new_technologies_aboard_our_newest_ships_115470.html
