Is it Possible to Have a Stealth Carrier???

[bradclark1]

Originally Posted by CCIP

Depending on what happens in the world in the foreseeable future, I wouldn't be surprised that the concept of the carrier itself will be obsolete and utterly useless within 50 years.

I'm not so sure unless aircraft speed and fuel useage change a lot. There is nothing like a carrier task force off your shores to make one rethink your position. In fact a carrier task force might take on a larger roll in world affairs. Fleets would have to have more destroyers and frigates though to properly protect.

[Tchocky]

Some theorists are saying that aircraft carriers wouldn't survive for very long in a modern war. Expensive, pretty, and doomed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Challenge_2002

The fact remains that the most useful task a CVBG can accomplish is power projection - designed to avoid war through intimidation. And, to be fair, CVBG's are fairly intimidating.
However, if the carrier battle group is proved to be as vulnerable as some believe it to be, I can't see it's power projection abilities being very effective.

[geetrue]

The only real use of a very expensive stealth carrier would be for first strike offensive warfare ...

Depending on which country you chose to launch an air strike on ... you can expect retaillation.

Terroist are available for a price to get even if we attack a non-super power country ...

Leaves the super powers of Russia or China to start a war with ... the ending scenerio would not be very pleasant if we attacked either of these countries.

What we need is a submaine that can carry supplies and oil for the regular Navy ships that haven't converted to nuclear yet ...

Originally Posted by motsivad

Stealth Destroyers are becoming ever more common but is it technically possible to have a Stealth Aircraft Carrier?

The cost would be astronomical of course, but I just wondered.

Surely thought the aircraft on its deck would ruin the ships stealth profile though.

It was already attempted. I think it was called "The Philadelphia Experiment."

[Sea Demon]

Stealth carrier? It depends on what you mean. If you're talking about a carrier that has signature management features, acoustic reduction characteristics, reduced RCS etc. , then yes, that stuff is being worked on. It will all be a part of the next gen carrier. Stealth in the case of a carrier will not mean "invisible carrier". It will just be made to have a profile of something different than one would expect from a carrier.

[XabbaRus]

I personally think the F-22 is over rated. Do a quick google and you'll find it has some deficiencies that aren't touted in AF publications.

For example.
Current aircraft don't have Link 16 so can't be the forward air controller that is often portrayed in articles.

Apparantly there was no destructive testing done on an airframe test model and that there is a weakness in its main fuselage boom.

http://www.armytimes.com/community/o...raptor_071126/
This is one report, also read it in AFM monthly.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

I personally think the F-22 is over rated. Do a quick google and you'll find it has some deficiencies that aren't touted in AF publications.

For example.
Current aircraft don't have Link 16 so can't be the forward air controller that is often portrayed in articles.

Apparantly there was no destructive testing done on an airframe test model and that there is a weakness in its main fuselage boom.

http://www.armytimes.com/community/o...raptor_071126/
This is one report, also read it in AFM monthly.

Minor problems that will be fixed as time goes on. FYI - every new airframe has bugs that must be worked out once you see what happens in full operation. Link 16 is a systems mod that can be added as its completed. The airframe is minor enough to not even warrant a grounding. There is a leaky top plate on the first planes off the assembly line that is causing corrosion in places, but all that will be fixed in time and current models rolling off don't have that problem.

All minor BS brought up by critics. Same thing happened for F-16's and F-15's and every other aircraft that ever entered service.

-S

PS. One thing I noticed - the F-22's are still not giving away their true potential. They are not being flown without drop tanks for instance so as not to give away their true stealthy nature. Must still be classified until a real war erupts???

[geetrue]

http://www.defense-update.com/newsca...807_ucas_d.htm

Perhaps no stealth carrier in the near future like the new Zumwalt DD-1000 that was just approved for building, but they do have a next generation US Navy unmanned observation stealth plane being developed as we speak.

Production version could be out by 2018: X-47

Testing is scheduled to begin in late 2009 and culminate with carrier flight operations in 2013. The tests will involve shipboard operation, including catapult takeoffs, arrested landings and flight in the immediate vicinity of an aircraft carrier. The air vehicle will not carry weapons.

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

PS. One thing I noticed - the F-22's are still not giving away their true potential. They are not being flown without drop tanks for instance so as not to give away their true stealthy nature. Must still be classified until a real war erupts???

I've seen plenty of pics of F22's without tanks.
Then again, they could be over the US, away from snoopy radars