“Since the 40s of the XNUMXth century, aircraft carriers have been the backbone of the naval fleet, and to this day remain the main "currency" of the Navy. However, all the time of their existence, plans were developed to combat them. Although the particulars of these plans are changing, the basic principles remain unchanged. Nevertheless, many believe that the innovations of China and Russia in the field of armaments can put an end to the aircraft carrier, ”the article cites InoTV.
“Suppose you want to sink an aircraft carrier. What will you do for this? ”, Asks the author. And he himself answers:
“First, back in the Second World War, submarine torpedoes were used to destroy aircraft carriers. To this day, the Russian and Chinese fleets are practicing attacks on the US carrier strike forces (AUG); The fleets of the Western powers are doing the same.
Secondly, cruise missiles launched from airplanes, ships, submarines and ground installations are of considerable danger to aircraft carriers. At the moment, China and Russia are armed with a wide range of systems for launching cruise missiles capable of delivering strikes against US AUG.
Thirdly, to combat aircraft carriers in recent decades, the latest anti-ship ballistic missiles have appeared. For example, the Chinese Df-21 is capable of hitting American aircraft carriers from hitherto inconceivable distances, bypassing existing protection systems at high speed. Even the kinetic energy of this rocket is enough to, if not sink the aircraft carrier, then destroy its deck, which would make the ship almost useless. "
Appearance of the like weapons pushed the US Navy to force the development of anti-missile systems. However, "the ability of the Navy to provide reliable protection for its aircraft carriers is under big question, which made the US Navy think about the value of aircraft carriers in a full-scale war, especially given their astronomical value."
It is possible that Russia and China do not need to sink aircraft carriers to bring the ships of this type to extinction. All the above factors - types of weapons that can destroy aircraft carriers, and their high cost - can lead to the fact that these ships will be used very carefully. In the event of a conflict, American admirals and the president may begin to worry so much about the vulnerability of aircraft carriers that they will not use them effectively,
the author writes.The enormous value of these ships will be their main weakness, which will lead them to remain on the outskirts of intense conflict, he believes. This, in turn, will lead to the obsolescence of ships.
But does this mean that aircraft carriers have become obsolete weapons? Not. Russia and China have persistently developed methods of dealing with them, because they consider these ships as the most serious threat. Moreover, these countries have created a whole range of weapons, as aircraft carriers have something to respond to. In addition, China has recently initiated its own aircraft carrier development program,
notes journalist.And yet, aircraft carriers are in real danger from advanced military technology. The main threat comes more from a lack of material and technical equipment, and “if the US cannot stop the rising cost of aircraft carriers and aircraft on board, then it will not be easy for these ships to maintain their place in the current architecture of the US defense policy,” he concludes.