Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Data Figure: U.S. Navy CVN-79 Ford-class aircraft carrier program envisages map

reporter/Weidong Xu

According to the U.S. Associated Press reported March 1 , Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard belongs to 25 last month held a “first steel plates cut” ceremony, marking the latest one U.S. Navy nuclear aircraft carrier – CVN-79 No. pre-construction work officially started. CVN-79, No. 3 United States, “Ford” class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ship in the second vessel is planned for late 2012, construction work in full swing, delivered the U.S. Navy in 2020. “Ford” class aircraft carrier first ship, “Ford” number (CVN-78) is currently under construction, is expected to be delivered in September 2015 the U.S. Navy. And active duty “Nimitz” class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier compared to the “Ford” class larger, more powerful. Its appearance means the Navy will further strengthen the “aircraft carrier advantage” in order to protect its maritime hegemony.

with “super carrier” to maintain hegemony

former U.S. President Bill Clinton once said: “When the ‘crisis’ is a word appeared in the Washington, Americans no doubt to say the first thing is that recently our aircraft carriers in what place? “Clearly, the location and dispatch the aircraft carrier deployment orientation has become the benchmark of U.S. strategic decision-making.

in World War II, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier ruined by the attacks of the Japanese combined fleet has, since the establishment of the carrier in the fleet in the central position; during the Cold War, the U.S. Navy effort to expand the number of aircraft, excessive superstition that the former Soviet Navy submarine in the “Cuban missile crisis” in big loss of face; the 21st century, the U.S. aircraft carrier has become the vanguard of foreign military intervention, has helped the U.S. overthrow the Taliban and Saddam Hussein’s regime … … historical facts show that, regardless of changes in U.S. military strategy, the concept development of aircraft carriers will not be significantly changed.

on the Korean peninsula, “ship” incident and Yin Ping Island artillery incident, the U.S. aircraft carrier is repeatedly sent together South Korea, Japan, large-scale joint military exercises. According to Voice of America website and the South Korean media recently reported that South Korea a new round of “key decisions”, “Yao Ying,” Two exercises will continue until April 30, this will send the U.S. Navy, “Ronald Reagan” was nuclear-powered aircraft carrier participating. Russia, “The Independent” reported on March 1, citing Russia’s strategic expert analysis, this move may be to put pressure on China because “China is the only real influence on North Korea’s state.” In addition, the most recent turmoil in the Middle East continued, Libya and even into the long-term risk of civil war. According to the U.S. Navy website, the “Enterprise” nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has begun to move north to the Red Sea, is now close to the Suez Canal. Seen in response to the Asia Pacific and Middle East a hot issue, the use of aircraft carrier has become the U.S. Navy’s “conventional action.”

under the current disclosure of information display, 3 “Ford” class aircraft carrier in service, will replace the main activities in the Pacific and Indian Ocean’s “Enterprise”, “Nimitz” and “Eisenhower” No. 3 carrier. It may also indicate that the future Navy will use more advanced nuclear-powered carrier to maintain its hegemony in the Pacific and Indian Ocean.

seeking to ensure the “generation gap” advantage

present, European and Asian countries are developing their own aircraft, but these aircraft with the “Ford” class there are obvious gaps. According to the U.S. Navy website, compared with the existing fleet of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, “Ford” class of service period up to 50 years, the overall operating cost savings of $ 5.0 billion. Of course, the U.S. Navy R & D and equipment, “Ford” class aircraft carrier is not just for money, powerful, efficient and full operational capability is its most valued.

public information, “Ford” class aircraft carrier length of 333 meters wide and 40.8 m, with a giant flight deck, a displacement of about 10 million tons, containing members of the 2500-2700 people, called “super aircraft carrier.”

and older “Nimitz” class aircraft carrier than the “Ford” class has a number of innovations. Although little change in the overall design of the hull, but the island with a new ship design, not only into the concept of stealth technology, equipped with the original as “Zhu Walter” class destroyer design AN/SPY-3 dual-band radar.

in carrier-based aircraft, the “Ford” class aircraft carrier will also have more diverse choices. According to the “Naval Technology” Web site analysis, the level of carrier-based aircraft capable of carrying 90, including: F-35 stealth fighter, F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet” aircraft, EA-18G “Growler” electronic fighters, E-2D “Advanced Hawkeye” early warning aircraft, MH-60R/S helicopters and unmanned combat/reconnaissance aircraft, perform a variety of combat missions.

In addition, active duty U.S. military aircraft are equipped with a steam catapult, the technology has half a century of history, not only difficult to operate, but also affect the carrier-based aircraft service life. Future, “Ford” class aircraft carrier will be equipped with electromagnetic catapults will overcome all the shortcomings of the steam catapult, and launch unmanned aerial vehicles.

in the year of the war in Iraq, the U.S. Navy sent “Lincoln”, “Constellation,” “Kitty Hawk”, “Roosevelt” and “Truman” five aircraft carrier battle group entered the war, it is also a need to use a large number of Air Force war fighters in order to gather strength. And equipment, “Ford” class aircraft carrier, the Navy will not only have a reliable means of reconnaissance, but also the ability to use stealth and unmanned F-35 fighters as “Chuaimen weapon”, an independent combat capability will be increased substantially. Yong-Chun Liang military commentator with the words, the U.S. development of “Ford” class aircraft carrier is to an existing aircraft to other countries to form a huge “generation gap” advantage.

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U.S. carrier actually good to play

recent years, with enhance China’s military power, the West increasingly keen speculation in China’s “submarine threat” and “anti-ship ballistic missile threat” argument, but granted the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier has become the target and “victims.”

But in fact, China’s military has been deliberately exaggerated. U.S. Naval Intelligence has on the analysis, said China does not yet have effective use of its new anti-ship missile attacks on U.S. aircraft carrier or the ability of other warships. In addition, several military structure of the Pacific-depth research of retired U.S. admirals also believes that now that “the end of the era aircraft carrier” is premature.

U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups, not only with the ‘Aegis’ air defense destroyers, cruisers and attack submarines, anti-submarine escort troops, etc., can also be shore-based P-3C anti-submarine aircraft and other air force cover, submarines and aircraft are difficult to break through the layers of defense around the carrier network, showing that aircraft carrier is not easy. U.S. aircraft carrier in the same time to develop, and constantly self-exposing the carrier’s “weaknesses” is clearly misleading to give other countries a means of development of aircraft carriers. (Jose)