With the advent of ever more capable and relatively cheap to produce and operate UAVs and UCAVs, as well as new long range cruise- and anti-ship missiles, and with Russia and China both developing long range hypersonic missiles specifically designed to take out aircraft carriers, is there a case to be made for a Zumwalt-like stealth(y) aircraft carrier in the future?
Key figures:
- Length: 302 m
- Length: 302 m
- Width: max. 78m at the lower flight deck, 48m at the waterline.
- Displacement: 83,000 tons when fully loaded.
- Propulsion: integrated electric power system powered by a nuclear reactor.
- Maximum range: unlimited.
- Crew: 450 to operate the ship, 1200 with a fully air wing embarked.
- Airwing: a mix of up to 120 manned (fixed wing and rotary) aircraft and UCAVs.
- Weapons: laser weapons and missiles for self defense.
- Displacement: 83,000 tons when fully loaded.
- Propulsion: integrated electric power system powered by a nuclear reactor.
- Maximum range: unlimited.
- Crew: 450 to operate the ship, 1200 with a fully air wing embarked.
- Airwing: a mix of up to 120 manned (fixed wing and rotary) aircraft and UCAVs.
- Weapons: laser weapons and missiles for self defense.