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U.S. Fleet Shrinks as China and India Build New Aircraft Carriers


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India launched its new aircraft carrier last week, the 37,500-ton INS Vikrant. In response, a state-run Chinese newspaper called for more carriers in the People’s Liberation Army Navy fleet. Meanwhile, U.S. carriers—and the entire U.S. Navy—are struggling to meet fleet size requirements due to a chronically underfunded shipbuilding account and broader budget instability.

While the Chinese paper doesn’t view India’s navy as a threat, the author states, “India’s actions remind us that the strategic significance of developing aircraft carriers in Asia is not declining.”

The Chinese article argues that “the strategic deterrence provided by aircraft carriers is still significant.” Yet some U.S. lawmakers clearly disagree. While the U.S. carrier fleet cannot legally fall below 11 ships, this past year some Members of Congress attempted to subvert this requirement by proposing an amendment that would have blocked funding needed to maintain 11 carriers. Since the end of the Cold War, the prevailing strategy to preserve U.S. security and interests has been the ability to conduct two major regional contingencies in different parts of the world simultaneously. Executing this strategy has always required a fleet of at least 11 aircraft carriers. This was not the first attempt to shrink the carrier fleet. Congress reduced the requirement from 12 to 11 only a few years ago. Not long after, some lawmakers were calling for reducing the requirement further to 10 carriers. The Navy currently is using a waiver to the requirement because of a short gap between the most recent decommissioning and when the first Ford-class carrier is scheduled to enter the fleet.

Competition from foreign militaries is not the only reason the U.S. Navy should continue to sail a robust carrier fleet. The air force on board one U.S. carrier matches that of most nations. The ability to sail this power projection force to virtually anywhere in relatively little time has proven effective both for security and political objectives. As former Defense Secretary William Cohen explained, “If you don’t have that forward deployed presence, you have less of a voice, less of an influence.” Carriers also often serve in humanitarian aid missions, with their capacity to supply hundreds of hospital beds, clean water, and auxiliary power in a crisis. U.S. carriers performed these missions during the earthquake disasters in Japan and Haiti, to name just two recent examples.

If this fleet shrinks, it sends a signal to our adversaries that the U.S. will not be able to respond to conflict in every corner of the world. Do we want near peer-competitors such as China filling that void?

The aircraft carrier provides capabilities unparalleled in the fleet and serves the U.S. Navy longer than any other vessel. Its combination of power projection, mobility, and versatility make it a critical element of national security. Members of Congress should reject attempts to reduce this crucial fleet because they have the constitutional responsibility to “provide and maintain a Navy.” America’s position as a global naval power depends on it.

http://blog.heritage.org/2013/08/21/u-s-fleet-shrinks-as-china-and-india-build-new-aircraft-carriers/

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China was a sleeping giant and now he is waking up.

China's new navy is applying pressre to all nearby countries - India, Thailand, Phillippines, Japan, etc.......

China has the largest standing military force on the planet. Their weakness was in mobility. That problem is being solved NOW.

 

As America draws down, they are building up. Why is it that no one in the US can see the forest through the trees?

Edited by gymrat76541
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India launched its new aircraft carrier last week, the 37,500-ton INS Vikrant. In response, a state-run Chinese newspaper called for more carriers in the People’s Liberation Army Navy fleet. Meanwhile, U.S. carriers—and the entire U.S. Navy—are struggling to meet fleet size requirements due to a chronically underfunded shipbuilding account and broader budget instability.


 

However the golf trips and numerous vacations (on separate aircraft and to different locations ) are affordable, but not the cost of keeping our security/military strong and equipped .

 

God Help us.

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India launched its new aircraft carrier last week, the 37,500-ton INS Vikrant. In response, a state-run Chinese newspaper called for more carriers in the People’s Liberation Army Navy fleet. Meanwhile, U.S. carriers—and the entire U.S. Navy—are struggling to meet fleet size requirements due to a chronically underfunded shipbuilding account and broader budget instability.

 

However the golf trips and numerous vacations (on separate aircraft and to different locations ) are affordable, but not the cost of keeping our security/military strong and equipped .

 

God Help us.

 

You said it "God help us"

 So much for walk softly but carry a big stick. :(

Edited by gymrat76541
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***///

 

hobummer is as short-sighted as they come when it comes to International matters.

 

His own personal hatred for our U.S. Military has been evident from the start.  It is the commie ideology he cut his teeth on with his pretend radical Islamic "father", his crazy Hawaii "uncle", bill ayres, a liberal university system, and his handlers...

 

Spurned on by those in this Country who were brainwashed and duped into voting him into office TWICE, this tool is more out of control than ever.  We blame you.

 

  He has rendered US powerless against global threat both abroad and here at home.

 

The demonic laughter which will spew forth from his evil satanic form the very first time we receive the first strike will resonate through - and chill the hearts of every Patriot living and dead.

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37,500 tons wimpy little things actually.

The Nimitz-class supercarriers are a class of ten nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the United States Navy. The lead ship of the class is named for World War II Pacific fleet commander Chester W. Nimitz, who was the Navy's last fleet admiral. With an overall length of 1,092 ft (333 m) and full-load displacements of over 100,000 long tons,[1] they are the largest warships ever built.

I don't disagree with the article at all, the military has been scaled back, especially the Navy. The ship (an auxiliary repair ship) is not manned by Navy personnel any more, it's contracted out to civilian personnel, sad.

WM13

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