Submarines and drones are ‘the story of naval warfare in the 21st century’ but carriers continue to be an important symbol of military might
Drone swarms and stealth submarines are playing a growing role in modern warfare, yet aircraft carriers remain a symbol of military might.
That can be seen in China’s investment in the warships, as well as other countries including France, Turkey, India and Japan.
China’s naval fleet has been expanding at a rapid pace, with its fourth aircraft carrier fast taking shape, according to the latest satellite images of the shipyard in Dalian in the country’s northeast, where it is being built.
Those images show the bow and stern of the Type 004 carrier – which is expected to be nuclear-powered and have electromagnetic catapults – have already been constructed.
Washington-based think tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies said the vessel could have four aircraft launch catapults and a third aircraft elevator. That would allow for faster aircraft launches, bringing it closer to the launching capacity of America’s most advanced aircraft carriers.
Recent conflicts have shown that large surface warships are vulnerable to drones and missiles.
At the height of the Iran war in March, US carriers repositioned themselves further away from the Iranian coast to stay out of the range of hostile missiles. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s drone attacks have severely degraded Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
Yet many countries continue to pursue aircraft carrier programmes.
Middle power nations including France, Turkey, India, Japan and Indonesia are planning to increase their aircraft carrier fleets, or debating whether to do so.
“[War] is a form of politics and politics involve perception, intimidation, and psychology. So it’s not crazy that these leaders want to wield these instruments,” said Lyle Goldstein, director of Asia engagement at US-based think tank Defence Priorities.
He said recent conflicts had “convinced all countries that they need to take their defence much more seriously”.
“Both conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe also show the huge importance of these naval waterways, naval passages, and control of those passages, whether it’s the Turkish Straits or the Strait of Hormuz,” Goldstein said.
“So it reminds countries that they’re very vulnerable, and they don’t want to have to ask the great powers to help them.”
China now has three aircraft carriers in service – the world’s second-largest carrier fleet behind the United States, which has 11 of the warships.
But China does not yet have a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier – the most advanced type.
The US, meanwhile, is seeking to replace its older Nimitz-class carriers with the most advanced Gerald R. Ford-class carriers that use electromagnetic catapults, which can launch a wider range of aircraft.
According to Goldstein, a bigger Chinese fleet of aircraft carriers would not be a game-changer in the Pacific because they are vulnerable to attack.
“My view is that submarines and drones are the story of naval warfare in the 21st century,” he said.
“They are the more important platforms. So while aircraft carriers still have important uses, they’re not as critical as nuclear submarines.”
Chinese military analyst Song Zhongping said he expected China to build more aircraft carriers based on the Type 004.
Other powers are also looking to upgrade their aircraft carriers.
France plans to replace its only carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, with a next-generation warship that will be larger, more advanced and equipped with electromagnetic catapults that can launch next-gen fighters and drones. Dubbed the France Libre, it is expected to enter service around 2038.
Turkey, meanwhile, has a large amphibious assault ship that was converted into a drone carrier. Construction began on the MUGEM home-grown aircraft carrier last year – a much larger vessel that can accommodate both drones and crewed aircraft, potentially including future Turkish-made stealth fighters.
India is currently debating a larger third aircraft carrier that uses an electromagnetic catapult launch system and is nuclear-powered.
Japan has Izumo-class helicopter destroyers the JS Izumo and JS Kaga, both of which are being modified to operate F-35B stealth fighters. While Japan describes them as “multipurpose destroyers”, these upgrades will effectively give the country light aircraft carrier capability for the first time since World War II, which has put Beijing on high alert.
Meanwhile, the outline of an aircraft carrier deck has appeared at an Indonesian military base in Surabaya, according to a satellite image posted by Chinese commercial imagery provider MizarVision last month, as it prepares for the arrival of the Giuseppe Garibaldi, a carrier donated by Italy.
Song noted that aircraft carriers remained a symbol of military power.
“They can effectively maintain the countries’ overseas interests,” he said. “No other military equipment is comparable to them.”