Carrier killers, long deployments and floating airfields: Why aircraft carriers still matter
The US is repositioning aircraft carriers in West Asia amid ongoing conflict. These powerful naval assets are central to projecting American military power globally. India also operates aircraft carriers, viewing them as vital for regional security interests. China is developing its own carrier fleet and anti-ship missile capabilities. Carrier battle groups, supported by escort vessels, provide…
The ongoing conflict in West Asia marks the sixth month since its onset. The US has dispatched the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, replacing the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been enforcing a blockade and conducting operations against Iran. This is the second carrier withdrawal by the Pentagon from this conflict. Earlier, the US Navy had taken the USS Gerald R Ford out of the fight, after it had been deployed for 326 days.
The USS Lincoln has also been deployed for over eight months, both of which are among the longest carrier deployments since the Vietnam War.
These vessels are central to projecting US power, as a single carrier air wing boasts more combat aircraft than 75% of the world's air forces. Aircraft carriers serve as mobile military airfields, capable of launching and recovering aircraft. They provide an air defense umbrella and are fully operational sailing military airfields.
India, too, sees the value of this capability, as its area of interest extends from Bab El Mandeb to the Malacca Strait, and the country considers itself a preferred security partner in the region. India currently operates two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, making it the first Asian country to possess such a ship.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
