“National Interest”: Are the Houthis Ending the Era of American Aircraft Carriers? Reality or Exaggeration?
NYN | Reports and analyses
The American magazine National Interest has reiterated the end of the era of U.S. aircraft carriers, highlighting that the significant advancements in anti-ship missile technology possessed by U.S. adversaries such as China and Yemen’s Houthi forces have made these carriers a heavy burden on the U.S. military. This was evidenced in the Red Sea battle, where these missiles forced the U.S. Navy to retreat.
In a recent report titled “The Navy’s Real Nightmare: The Age of Aircraft Carriers Is Sinking,” the magazine emphasized that American aircraft carriers, once symbols of military might, are now vulnerable in modern warfare. With advancements in anti-ship missile technology, particularly in China and among groups like the Houthis, these carriers face the risk of becoming ineffective and costly burdens.
The report urged the United States to redirect its investments towards expanding its submarine fleet, developing smaller and more maneuverable warships, and enhancing hypersonic missile and weapon technologies to meet current and future challenges, rather than focusing on outdated systems.
The report explained that most countries tend to prepare for past wars rather than adapting to current challenges. It stressed that Washington remains committed to building and maintaining aircraft carriers despite their exorbitant costs and declining effectiveness. While these carriers are technological marvels, they resemble old battleships that are now relics of history.
It noted that the history of flat-top aircraft carriers was largely one of serendipity, and for Americans, the reason behind the U.S. Navy’s reliance on these technological marvels was their role in defeating the Japanese in the Pacific theater during World War II.
The report highlighted that the cost of building a new Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear aircraft carrier exceeds $13.3 billion, with maintenance running into hundreds of millions. The complexity and high cost of these carriers make them tempting targets for adversaries, meaning that their destruction or disablement in combat would be a significant loss for the U.S. Navy.
The report concluded that modern aircraft carriers have become symbols of a bygone era, as massive arsenals of long- and medium-range missiles can overpower their defenses. It pointed out that China has become a leader in building anti-ship capabilities, raising concerns among naval warfare experts that carriers could lose their effectiveness if a war between China and the United States over Taiwan were to break out.
The report emphasized that the threat is not limited to major powers. Even armed organizations like the Houthis in Yemen have demonstrated the capability of anti-ship missiles to undermine the influence of the U.S. Navy. The Houthis successfully forced the U.S. Navy out of the Red Sea in late 2023 using their missiles.
The report called on the Pentagon to stop wasting the budget on outdated, ineffective systems and to focus instead on developing hypersonic weapons and new space weapon technologies to counter the growing threats facing its forces globally.
In conclusion, the report warned the Pentagon that failure to take these steps would lead to a decline in the effectiveness of the U.S. military, stressing that “the era of aircraft carriers is over” and that it is time to abandon aircraft carriers before it becomes too late for American military power.
