Aircraft Carrier Vs. Cruise Missile 8

Recently the last carrier launch of the venerable Navy F-14 Tomcat occurred. Originally designed as a fleet interceptor in the late 1960’s, the Tomcat evolved into a potent long-range strike aircraft just in time for the start of the Global War on Terror. This “Bombcat” was a welcome addition to the aircraft carrier’s strike capability after the retirement of well-used A-6 Intruder bombers in the 1990’s. The replacement of these late Cold War planes is the very good F/A-18 Super Hornet, which unfortunately lacks the range of the older aircraft. This decrease in the combat range of naval strike planes comes at a time when warfare at sea moves into the littorals; confined waters that are unsuited for the big ships. Carriers now are forced closer inshore to participate in the land battle, thus making themselves greater targets for enemy mines, diesel subs, and cruise missiles. This will inevitably give credence to those who say the vulnerable and over-priced supercarriers be replaced with smaller, more stealthy vessels that fire long-range missiles and UAVs, with less risk to ship and crew.