American Carrier Air Power at the Dawn of a New Century,

Author

Lambeth; Benjamin S.

Year

2005

Publisher

RAND Corporation

Type

BOOK

Description

The author examines the dramatic improvements in American carrier air capability since the end of the cold war that were showcased with such great success in the first two major wars of the twenty-first century. He first describes the campaign against Osama Bin Laden's terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan, a tasking that required deep attacks from the sea in a remote part of the world where the United States lacked access close enough to the war zone for land-based theater air forces. He then reviews the role of American carrier-based air power in conducting around-the-clock operations during the three weeks of major combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In both cases, he explains how American carrier air power now operates as a massed force able to conduct deep-strike missions well beyond coastal reaches when aided by long-range inflight refueling. He further shows how far the nation's carrier force has advanced since the end of the cold war in providing consistently accurate weapons delivery and--for the first time in its history--multiple successful target attacks per sortie. He concludes with an optimistic view of American carrier air power's future that will be marked by greater carrier surge potential, the introduction of new combat aircraft, a successor to the Nimitz-class carrier, and an ever-tighter fusion of platforms, sensors, networks, and weapons.