Some of the reasons for a smaller air wing are;
1) Cutbacks and reduced aircraft availability. Hornet squadron use to have 12 aircraft each. Now that number is down to ten.
2) Precision Guided Munitions have greatly reduced the number of sorties need to destroy targets.
3) P-8s, P-3s & CSG SH-60s provide much of the ASW needed for a CSG. And remember a LA Class or Virginia Class SSN is always accompanying a USN CSG.
1) Cutbacks and reduced aircraft availability. Hornet squadron use to have 12 aircraft each. Now that number is down to ten.
2) Precision Guided Munitions have greatly reduced the number of sorties need to destroy targets.
3) P-8s, P-3s & CSG SH-60s provide much of the ASW needed for a CSG. And remember a LA Class or Virginia Class SSN is always accompanying a USN CSG.