The aircraft carriers were first introduced during WWI & since then they have been a mainstay of modern navies, but with new technologies, The question is: Are aircraft carriers becoming obsolete?
To understand whether aircraft carriers are becoming obsolete, let’s first look at the pros and cons of an aircraft carrier in the navy.
Advantages of Aircraft Carriers
Aircraft carriers provide a highly mobile air base that can be used to project power and protect strategic locations.
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Aircraft carriers are capable of carrying a large number of aircraft, allowing them to be used as a force multiplier in combat.
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Aircraft carriers can be used to launch large numbers of aircraft to conduct air strikes, reconnaissance, air defense missions and provide air support to ground troops.
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The presence of an aircraft carrier in a region can be a powerful deterrent against hostile forces.
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Disadvantages of Aircraft Carriers
Aircraft carriers are expensive to build and maintain. The Ford-class costs around $13 billion (excluding R&D), and the older Nimitz-class costs around $9 billion.
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With countries like China having Cruise missiles for anti-ship operations, aircraft carriers are vulnerable to attack, and can be sunk by enemy submarines and other weapons.
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Aircraft carriers are not as effective in modern naval warfare due to the rise of UAVs and other weapons.
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An aircraft carrier's operation requires a vast labor force, typically over 3000 sailors, meaning added expenses. Automation may be able to achieve the same military objectives with less expenditure.
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So aircraft carriers have long been an essential part of naval warfare, but their role is becoming increasingly less important due to the development of new technologies, weapons and UAVs.