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August 9, 2019Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D

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Why China Can’t Target U.S. Aircraft Carriers (From Forbes)

August 9, 2019Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D

Critics of U.S. aircraft carriers have been warning for decades that the warships were becoming vulnerable to attack by long-range anti-ship missiles. The latest source of this threat is said to be China. However, the missiles aren’t of much use if Beijing can’t find-fix-track-target U.S. carriers. There are reasons to suspect it can’t. First, it would need to monitor millions of square miles of ocean for a target that is constantly moving. Second, Chinese over-the-horizon radars have poor resolution and no tracking capability. Third, there are big gaps in China’s orbital reconnaissance constellations. Fourth, airborne and sea-based sensors can’t get inside the layered defensive perimeter of a carrier strike group. So while the Navy is well advised to keep investing in new technology and tactics, rumors of the carrier’s demise are greatly exaggerated. I have written a commentary for Forbes here.

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