The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated again, which has aroused widespread concern from the international community. As an ally of Israel, the United States has also strengthened its military deployment in the Middle East, most notably two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers — the USS Nimitz and the USS Ford — that sailed to the Middle East overnight, forming a two-carrier formation that provides Israel with strong maritime support.
The appearance of the US aircraft carrier group is undoubtedly a strong signal to the hostile forces in the Middle East, and at the same time, it is also a demonstration of US maritime hegemony to the whole world. The level of combat power of the US aircraft carrier group can be said to be the most powerful in the world, and it is difficult for other countries to achieve it in terms of number, scale, technology, and combat capability.
However, the strength of the American aircraft carrier group does not mean that it is invincible. In China, there are sufficient anti-ship means capable of constituting an effective deterrent and strike at the US aircraft carrier group. If in the future, in order to maintain its maritime supremacy, the United States tries to launch a military provocation against China, and even dispatches all 11 aircraft carriers, then China's waters will become the "graveyard" of the US aircraft carrier group.
The level of combat power of the US aircraft carrier group The level of combat power of the US aircraft carrier group is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Quantity: The United States currently has 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, of which 10 are Nimitz-class, one is Ford-class, and one Ford-class is under construction. This is the largest number of aircraft carriers in the world and more than 3 times the number of aircraft carriers in China.
Scale: The average displacement of U.S. aircraft carriers is about 100,000 tons, which is the largest aircraft carrier in the world, and can carry 70 to 90 aircraft of various types, including FA-18 series fighters, EA-18G electronic attack aircraft, E-2C D early warning aircraft, MH-60 series *** and F-35** fighters.
Technology: The technical level of American aircraft carriers, which is always at the forefront of the world. The nuclear power reactor of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier gives it an ultra-long range and high-speed maneuverability. The Ford-class aircraft carrier also adopts an electromagnetic catapult system, which improves the frequency and efficiency of aircraft sorties, while reducing maintenance needs and costs. In addition, the Aegis combat system, SPY-1 radar, and other electronic equipment on US aircraft carriers also give it an advantage in electronic warfare and information warfare.
Combat capability: The combat capability of the US aircraft carrier group is its core advantage. A U.S. aircraft carrier battle group, which typically includes an aircraft carrier, one or two missile cruisers, two or three missile destroyers, an attack submarine, and supply ship support, constitutes a complete maritime strike platform. The aviation forces carried on board the aircraft carrier are capable of delivering precision strikes over long distances, and they have unparalleled effectiveness in ground attack, anti-ship operations, and air defense missions. The U.S. carrier group also has a strong self-defense capability against multi-directional threats from the air, surface, and underwater.
China's countermeasures China's countermeasures are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Anti-ship missiles: China's anti-ship missiles are the most direct and effective means of striking at U.S. aircraft carrier groups. China's Dongfeng series of anti-ship missiles have extremely strong maritime strike capabilities, among which the Dongfeng-17 hypersonic missile is known as the "aircraft carrier killer", and the Dongfeng-26 is known as the "first killer". In addition, there are mysterious Dongfeng-27 missiles, which can strike the American fleet even outside the "second island chain". These anti-ship missiles are characterized by fast response, high speed, strong maneuverability, and high stealth, and are capable of breaking through the defenses of the US aircraft carrier group in a short period of time and delivering a fatal blow to it. To increase the likelihood of sinking an aircraft carrier, China may use saturation attacks, along with electronic warfare, cyber attacks, and other means of jamming, to cripple the sensors and communications systems of the U.S. carrier group.
Other anti-ship means: In addition to anti-ship missiles, China has other types of anti-ship means, such as the YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship missile, which can be launched by the 055 destroyer. The 055 destroyer is China's most advanced surface warship, equipped with 112 vertical launch systems, which can achieve full coverage of firepower in an instant, and one ship can top one fleet. In addition, China also has anti-ship platforms such as submarines, unmanned aerial vehicles, and carrier-based aircraft, which can form a multi-dimensional threat and suppression of the US aircraft carrier group.
Aircraft carrier formation: China's aircraft carrier formation is also not vegetarian. At present, China already has three aircraft carriers, namely the Liaoning, Shandong and Fujian, of which the Fujian is China's first domestically produced aircraft carrier and one of the most advanced aircraft carriers in the world. China's aircraft carriers are equipped with advanced J-15 carrier-based aircraft, as well as other air defense and strike means, and are capable of performing a variety of tasks at sea to protect the country's maritime interests. China's aircraft carrier group also has a geographical advantage, and can maneuver and deploy in the near and far seas, forming an effective containment and balance against the US aircraft carrier group.
Conclusion To sum up, the deterrence of the US aircraft carrier group and China's countermeasures are a contest at sea and a contest of technology. The strength of the US aircraft carrier group should not be underestimated, but China's countermeasures should not be ignored either. If the United States tries to dispatch all aircraft carriers to constitute a strategic deterrent to China, then China's waters will become a "graveyard" for American aircraft carrier groups.