Can The US Navy Destroy Chinese Aircraft Carriers? How?

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

Would China’s new aircraft carrier fleet survive in a war against the U.S. military?

Most research suggests Chinese aircraft carriers would be highly vulnerable in an engagement with the U.S. Navy for several reasons. Here is a quick survey of all of the ways China’s carriers could be placed in danger by the U.S. Navy:

WEAPONS AND TACTICS

There are near-term or immediate U.S. Navy threats Chinese carriers would face as well as mounting threats in coming years.

For instance, should the U.S. Navy succeed in arming its Zumwalt-class destroyers with hypersonic missiles by 2025 and continue rapid progress to mature and operationalize warship-fired laser weapons, its ability to destroy Chinese carriers will expand immeasurably in coming years.

AIR POWER

In a more immediate sense, three specific things come to mind as current or pressing US Navy weapons and tactics likely capable of destroying Chinese carriers.

Perhaps most of all, the U.S. Navy can massively project forward-positioned, 5th-generation maritime air power in a manner likely to overwhelm Chinese carrier defenses.

U.S. America-class amphibious assault ships can deploy with as many as 13 to 15 F-35Bs, and Aircraft Carrier Carrier Air Wings can launch F-35C formations.