Aircraft Carriers III

stan hyd

New Member
Registered Member
Whats depressing is it pretty much says that there has been little movement in the last year. Weapons elevators don't seem to have progressed much in the last few months either (perhaps understandably with COVID). Think its been stuck at 6 working for a while..
I do believe the USN will eventually fix it and get it working (and they'd better do), but the odd thing is that all the recent public pronouncements seemed to have implied that the worst was behind them and that it was reaching an acceptable state. If the report is true its hard to trust any more pronouncements from the Navy regarding this. I know there is always a political angle of buying time for a fix to go in etc., and thats to be expected to a degree..... But the report really does clash with public statements to an unwise amount.
Do you think they will restart that review in to carriers again that looks at possibly of limiting the Ford class to 4 and developing a fleet carrier design.
 

Mr T

Senior Member
If the report is true its hard to trust any more pronouncements from the Navy regarding this. I know there is always a political angle of buying time for a fix to go in etc., and thats to be expected to a degree..... But the report really does clash with public statements to an unwise amount.
It's quite possible that Bloomberg is overstating the problem simply because they've only heard bits and pieces. Like when the Type 45 destroyer was being labelled as "immobile" because of issues regarding the propulsion system long after an interim solution had been found to let them deploy again.
Imagine, if the first operational carrier with EMALS will be Chinese ...
Well the Chinese government would never admit if they couldn't get EMALS working properly and had missed a deadline to get it operational. There's little transparency over the PLA so who knows.
 

XavNN

Junior Member
Registered Member
Italian Navy Aircraft Carrier Cavour To Start F-35B Qualification Next Month
Italian-Navy-Aircraft-Carrier-Cavour-to-Start-F-35B-Qualification-Next-Month-770x410.jpg.webp

The Italian Navy (Marina Militare) flagship, the aircraft carrier ITS Cavour, is set to reach Naval Station Norfolk in mid-February to start F-35B STOVL aircraft qualifications with the U.S. Marine Corps. This was announced by Captain Gianfranco Vizzini, Naval Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Washington DC, during the Surface Navy Association (SNA) 2021 virtual Symposium.
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Intrepid

Major
Large economies with nuclear weapons and fixed wing aircraft carrier ambitions:

Unbenannt1.png

I guess, in thirty years China operates more aircraft carriers than the USA. Only the technical development of new weapons like autonomous vehicles under water, on the surface or in the air and other stuff may change the picture.

And now let's be excited to see the development of 003 into a full-blown conventionally powerd aircraft carrier.
 

Totoro

Major
VIP Professional
South Korea is exploring and investing in carrier options as well. More seriously than Turkey, I'd say.

Also, talking about just ambition, Brazil definitely has ambition to operate carriers. Their lack of money forced them to get rid of their carrier, and nothing else. So by 2050 it's perfectly possible they will be once again operating a carrier. Indonesia too might join that club by 2050. If indeed it manages to be so successful economically as the table projects. After all, its an island nation, covering a huge territory - it could be better served by a carrier than some of the other countries on the list.
 

KampfAlwin

Junior Member
Registered Member
8 is the most likely number for the long run. I believe China and the US will eventually sit down and devise a navel arms control treaty. China will be happy to stick to 8 AC, the US will most likely have 11 to 12. And it is very likely that other party such as Russia will also enter the treaty. With China's help, Russia could easily build and operate up to four 85,000+ ton supercarriers. China and Russia having a total of 12 super carriers, while the US will drag in the EU and have a couple more (11-12 for the US, 2-3 for the EU).
Off topic - but what makes you think Russia can operate 4 supercarriers lol? Their economy is in the shitters and the UK, with almost twice the GDP, struggles to afford more than 2 STOBAR carriers.
 

gelgoog

Brigadier
Registered Member
I think Russia could operate 4 supercarriers if they wanted to. But it makes no sense for them to have capabilities like that.
It is a waste of money and doesn't provide any necessary capabilities. I think at best they'll build two carriers.
 

Gloire_bb

Captain
Registered Member
In the past 20 years they spent not enough money to keep at least one airwing current. I guess they have no need for carriers.
There is a chance two LHDs currently in construction will actually end up being STOBAR hybrids.
At least some rumor activity suggests it may be the case.

The Russian navy is sort of a perfect example of Mahanian theory - it's up to the person in charge.
No lasting consensus - no lasting policy.
Their economy is in the shitters and the UK, with almost twice the GDP
Unlike the UK, Russia(or China, for the matter) for the large part procures its military equipment domestically.
US $ GDP isn't indicative here, PPP is.
 
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