Commentary: A New Carrier-How We'll Get There

摘要

The end of the cold war has not diminished the need for aircraft carriers. Admiral Jay Johnson, chief of naval operations, recently noted, "Since 1990, the U.S. carrier force has been as heavily involved, if not more, in responding to and deterring global crises." During the cold war, the Navy participated in one crisis-response operation about every 11 weeks. Since then, the rate has increased to about one every four weeks. Carriers provide the unique ability to position forces well ahead of a crisis, project power, and remain long after the dust settles. Combat commanders demand naval presence to fulfill their missions, and the ship they demand most is the carrier.