By Kris Osborn, President Center for Military Modernization
The US Navy is experienced with dual carrier operations, have trained for coordinated joint-carrier warfare in the Pacific recently, and the service is poised to potentially conduct something similar in the Mediterranean Sea should it become necessary.
Indeed the USS Gerald R. Ford and Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Groups have been operating together in the Eastern Mediterranean in a gesture of support for embattled Israel as they defend against Hamas terrorist attacks.
Dual carrier operations exponentially increase the air attack potential for the US Navy, as an integrated, combined Carrier Air Wing can launch more than double the amount of sorties. In theory, the two carriers together could launch F-35Cs and F/A-18 fighter jets, a force of arguable unprecedented air power and reach. However, a dual-carrier operation in the Mediterranean involving the USS Ford means their might be less opportunity to attack with F-35Cs, as the ship is slated to receive the necessary modifications to receive the F-35C in the next several years. Nonetheless, the two carrier strike groups could, if necessary, launch a massive coordinated air campaign and also project large-scale land-attack firepower from destroyers and cruisers supporting a Carrier Strike Group
Certainly Navy senior leaders and Pentagon officials have been clear that the increased US presence in the Middle East is a clear warning sign to Hamas and its sympathizers in Iran, Lebanon and other locations throughout the Middle East.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been clear that the increased US presence is intended as a deterrent to show solidarity with Israel as it fights terrorism and protect US personnel now under increased threat in the region.
Dual carrier operations, as evidenced by the US Navy in the Pacific with the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Nimitz in the Philippine Sea in 2020, require advanced networking and operational coordination. Yet if done successfully, the ability to launch an air attack campaign across a wide envelope in a sustained manner is exponentially increased. The presence of the USS Ford further expanded the reach of both Carrier Air Wings as its larger deck space enables a 33-percent increase in sortie rates. US Navy Ford-class carriers can also much more quickly refuel and rearm due to electric elevator systems and new weapons-handling protocols and procedures.
The dual-carrier presence in the Mediterranean could quickly and easily hold Hamas targets at risk of precision attack or blanket the skies above Israel with protective ISR, however reaching Iran from the Eastern Mediterranean would likely require refueling or a stop on the Arabian Peninsula at places such as the United Arab Emirates. The US Air Force has operated F-22s from the UAE before in an effort to send a message to Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, and could certainly do the same now if necessary.
Stopping in the UAE would likely be a necessity should there need to be offensive carrier-attack operations over Iran, as a large, non-stealthy tanker would likely prove extremely vulnerable should it operate within range of Iran’s Russian-built air defenses. Yet another complicating factor is that the first-of-its-kind carrier-launched drone refueler and ISR platform the MQ-25 Stingray is now being tested and not slated for operations until 2026. Should the MQ-25 be operational, then US Navy carriers could project power from distances more than twice as far away without absorbing new risks to pilots and personnel, as the MQ-25 is unmanned.
The two US Navy Carrier Strike Groups recently conducted joint operations in the Eastern Mediterranean with Italian Navy Frigates to show international resolve to protect US and allied interests and personnel in the region.
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization and Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
