Chinese artist’s conception of a PLA anti-ship ballistic missile attack on three USN CVNs.
Asia Times: The US Navy’s real China challenge: An anti-access ‘swarm’ strike
The United States Navy seems under siege from all sides when it comes to its inability to project power in Asia — thanks largely to the People’s Republic of China’s investment in various anti-ship weapons platforms.
Considering the challenge presented by China today, while not even factoring in the daunting nature of future threats that seem just over the horizon, US naval planners seem to have their work cut out for them.
Take for instance the most obvious example: the threat such weapons pose to America’s mighty aircraft carrier. The carrier is the very symbol of Washington’s power and influence around the world. Unfortunately, the US “flattop” seems to be under constant attack time and time again in article after article, report after report, for their inability to counter the growing threat of anti-ship weapons that can be launched from land, sea and air by Beijing.
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WNU Editor: This is going to be a difficult challenge for the U.S. to overcome. U.S. aircraft carriers go for $13 billion a copy .... Chinese missiles go for a few million (tops) .... their smaller but lethal attack boats a few million, etc. .... in a war of attrition .... especially in the Asian theatre and at the beginning of any conflict .... the U.S. will probably find itself at a serious disadvantage.