Russia’s New Weapons: Aircraft Carriers No Longer Rule the Seas
BY ALEX GORKA / STRATEGIC CULTURE
The US Navy received the first of its new generation aircraft carriers, USS Gerald R. Ford, on June 1, moving the $13 billion ship closer to becoming operational. It is expected to be commissioned this summer. Two other Ford-class carriers, the John F. Kennedy and Enterprise, are also planned. The ship can carry more aircraft, weapons and fuel with its larger flight deck and features the newly designed electromagnetic aircraft launch system. Once commissioned, the Ford will undergo a series of tests and is slated to be operational in 2020.
She carries 75-90 aircraft. Ships of the Ford class are intended to sustain 160 sorties per day for 30-plus days, with a surge capability of 270 sorties per day.
HMS Queen Elizabeth, a 280-meter, 65,000-ton aircraft carrier – the largest and most powerful ship of the UK Royal Navy – started sea trials in June 26. She is to be commissioned this year and expected to reach initial operating capability in 2018. The second ship of the class, HMS Prince of Wales, is scheduled to be launched around summer 2017, followed by commissioning in 2020. The flattop is designed to operate V/STOL aircraft; her air wing will typically consist of F-35B Lightning II fighter-bombers and Merlin helicopters for airborne early warning and anti-submarine warfare. She provides accommodation for 250 Royal Marines supported with attack helicopters and troop transports.
France has plans to build its second aircraft carrier. Some experts believe that the aircraft carrier’s construction will be begun in 2020.
The leading NATO nations continue to build large-deck, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, which are the signature expression of military power. They have been a critical component of almost every major combat operation going back to WWII. The flattops are the tools to ensure sea dominance, power projection capability and intimidation of other countries, like Russia, for instance. Will the large ships be effective platforms to make Russia kneel? The answer is no. Not today.
The Russian Raduga Kh-22 carried by Tu-22M3 aircraft is a large, long-range anti-ship missile with an operational range of 600km (320nmi). In theory, with its range and the 1 ton (2,200 lbs) shaped-charge warhead the missile can cripple an aircraft carrier at a single blow. The warhead is powerful enough to make a 5m wide, 12m deep hole in the hull of any ship it strikes.
The Kh-32, an upgraded version of the Kh-22 capable of delivering a 1,000 kg conventional warhead or 1,000 kiloton nuclear warhead. Russia is finalizing its trials. The Kh-32 will also be carried by Tupolev Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers. The cutting-edge missile is virtually invulnerable to ground-based air defenses and interceptors of a potential adversary. Once launched, it climbs to an altitude of 40 km, to the stratosphere, to dive on the target at a steep angle. The missile is expected to have a firing range of up to 1,000 km compared to the 600 km for the Kh-22. It can reach speeds of no less than 5,000 kmh. The combination of speed and trajectory makes the Kh-32 almost invincible to enemy air defenses and interceptors.
The Tu-22M3 (Backfire) is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber, which can fly at a maximum altitude of 14,000 m and the rate of climb of the aircraft is 15 m/s. The aircraft has a cruise speed of 900 km/h and maximum speed of 2,300 km/h. The operational range of the aircraft is 7,000 km. The aircraft can be equipped with refueling probes to allow in-flight refueling for extended range. All the Tu-22M3 aircraft are expected to be fully upgraded by late 2018. There are over 60 Tu-22M3s in Russia’s inventory.
In the documentary film (The Putin Interviews) shot by Oliver Stone about Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader mentioned a new missile with unique characteristic capable of many things, including overcoming any missile defenses. The missile in question is the 3M22 Zircon, a hypersonic missile that will travel 4,600 miles (7,400km) per hour — five times the speed of sound. It boasts a range of 250 miles. That’s just three minutes and 15 seconds from launch to impact.
State tests of Zircon are scheduled for completion in 2017 and the missile’s serial production is planned to be launched next year. Russia will be the only nation in the world to launch serial production of hypersonic weapons, leaving the US far behind. The first Zircons will be installed on sea platforms. According to Harry J. Kazianis, Executive Editor of The National Interest, such missiles could «could turn America’s supercarriers into multi-billion dollar graveyards for thousands of US sailors». Even a small-size ship armed with Zircons becomes a formidable foe for an aircraft carrier. No weapon to counter the Zircon exists as yet.
Aircraft carriers are powerful ships to reckon with, there are not easy targets. They are hard to approach and guiding the missiles to strike a flattop is a serious challenge. But the days when they guaranteed supremacy at sea are over. If push comes to shove, Russia has the means to strike and sink them.
The US Navy received the first of its new generation aircraft carriers, USS Gerald R. Ford, on June 1, moving the $13 billion ship closer to becoming operational. It is expected to be commissioned this summer. Two other Ford-class carriers, the John F. Kennedy and Enterprise, are also planned. The ship can carry more aircraft, weapons and fuel with its larger flight deck and features the newly designed electromagnetic aircraft launch system. Once commissioned, the Ford will undergo a series of tests and is slated to be operational in 2020.
She carries 75-90 aircraft. Ships of the Ford class are intended to sustain 160 sorties per day for 30-plus days, with a surge capability of 270 sorties per day.
HMS Queen Elizabeth, a 280-meter, 65,000-ton aircraft carrier – the largest and most powerful ship of the UK Royal Navy – started sea trials in June 26. She is to be commissioned this year and expected to reach initial operating capability in 2018. The second ship of the class, HMS Prince of Wales, is scheduled to be launched around summer 2017, followed by commissioning in 2020. The flattop is designed to operate V/STOL aircraft; her air wing will typically consist of F-35B Lightning II fighter-bombers and Merlin helicopters for airborne early warning and anti-submarine warfare. She provides accommodation for 250 Royal Marines supported with attack helicopters and troop transports.
France has plans to build its second aircraft carrier. Some experts believe that the aircraft carrier’s construction will be begun in 2020.
The leading NATO nations continue to build large-deck, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, which are the signature expression of military power. They have been a critical component of almost every major combat operation going back to WWII. The flattops are the tools to ensure sea dominance, power projection capability and intimidation of other countries, like Russia, for instance. Will the large ships be effective platforms to make Russia kneel? The answer is no. Not today.
The Russian Raduga Kh-22 carried by Tu-22M3 aircraft is a large, long-range anti-ship missile with an operational range of 600km (320nmi). In theory, with its range and the 1 ton (2,200 lbs) shaped-charge warhead the missile can cripple an aircraft carrier at a single blow. The warhead is powerful enough to make a 5m wide, 12m deep hole in the hull of any ship it strikes.
The Kh-32, an upgraded version of the Kh-22 capable of delivering a 1,000 kg conventional warhead or 1,000 kiloton nuclear warhead. Russia is finalizing its trials. The Kh-32 will also be carried by Tupolev Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers. The cutting-edge missile is virtually invulnerable to ground-based air defenses and interceptors of a potential adversary. Once launched, it climbs to an altitude of 40 km, to the stratosphere, to dive on the target at a steep angle. The missile is expected to have a firing range of up to 1,000 km compared to the 600 km for the Kh-22. It can reach speeds of no less than 5,000 kmh. The combination of speed and trajectory makes the Kh-32 almost invincible to enemy air defenses and interceptors.
The Tu-22M3 (Backfire) is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber, which can fly at a maximum altitude of 14,000 m and the rate of climb of the aircraft is 15 m/s. The aircraft has a cruise speed of 900 km/h and maximum speed of 2,300 km/h. The operational range of the aircraft is 7,000 km. The aircraft can be equipped with refueling probes to allow in-flight refueling for extended range. All the Tu-22M3 aircraft are expected to be fully upgraded by late 2018. There are over 60 Tu-22M3s in Russia’s inventory.
In the documentary film (The Putin Interviews) shot by Oliver Stone about Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader mentioned a new missile with unique characteristic capable of many things, including overcoming any missile defenses. The missile in question is the 3M22 Zircon, a hypersonic missile that will travel 4,600 miles (7,400km) per hour — five times the speed of sound. It boasts a range of 250 miles. That’s just three minutes and 15 seconds from launch to impact.
State tests of Zircon are scheduled for completion in 2017 and the missile’s serial production is planned to be launched next year. Russia will be the only nation in the world to launch serial production of hypersonic weapons, leaving the US far behind. The first Zircons will be installed on sea platforms. According to Harry J. Kazianis, Executive Editor of The National Interest, such missiles could «could turn America’s supercarriers into multi-billion dollar graveyards for thousands of US sailors». Even a small-size ship armed with Zircons becomes a formidable foe for an aircraft carrier. No weapon to counter the Zircon exists as yet.
Aircraft carriers are powerful ships to reckon with, they are not easy targets. They are hard to approach and guiding the missiles to strike a flattop is a serious challenge. But the days when they guaranteed supremacy at sea are over. If push comes to shove, Russia has the means to strike and sink them.
More great articles here: https://www.strategic-culture.org
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Whistler Blowers, Insiders
The Russian bear strikes again
there won’t be a crew for the ship because trendy liberal parents keep disabling their kids for social security benefits. using Ritalin and vaccines while pregnant so the kid don’t have a brain to make it as a recruit for the military
Just how do you think the Japanese developed so many KAMIKAZE pilots in good ol WWII???
Ritalin and vaccines.
Watch out beeeotches…
We’ve even been training our kids with pilot and first-person shooter video games for DECADES now.
They won’t even be able to tell the difference between CGI and reality by the time we strap those little snowflakes into the cockpit of a brand new F-35, or even an old ass rust-bucket F-18 with Sidewinder air to airs.
Uncle Sam ain’t as stupid and silly as you think.
Doc, never mind the rust bucket F-18′s, what happens when we strap them into flux-capacitor driven disc craft, equipped with particle beam array-Directed Energy Weapons?
China wets its diapers and Russia runs screaming into the hills.
But everything would have to work perfectly the first time, and when’s the last time that happened?
If I’m not mistaken, I believe some of Tesla’s inventions worked exactly as intended the first time….But today, there are few scientists worthy of changing his socks.
United States will take over Russia through immagration. Russians immigrate to the United States and the united states immigrate to Russia. just look at the Russians living in new york city. and people moving to Russia because Trump became president
From what I’ve read, the Ford is nowhere near combat ready, and it won’t be for some time. The electromagnetic catapult system is so underpowered it reportedly can’t even launch a F-18 with full fuel. It can launch a F-18 with just enough fuel to get off the deck, but then the plane needs to go find a waiting, airborne tanker and refuel before it can do anything useful.
I am glad the Russians are building Aircraft Carriers again, as the time of the Aircraft Carrier is over and done, and these new ships will be nothing more than sitting ducks against modern weapons.
holy strategic maneuvers..
Never underestimate anyone, or anything. What’s “under” the flat tops?
Classify that as a flat top secret. Ha Ha..
When do governments finally realize that the people of this world are fed up with war which is in the interest of the elite only.
When do governments relaize that they have a responsibility to the people and not to a small group of banks.
Banks who only could get rich through the labour of the people via their evil practices. We know them all !!!!
Too long have people suffered from high taxes. Too long have people suffered from the selfness behaviour of an elite who only was intrested in more and more. It was not enough and it will never be enough.
We are fed up with the lunatics who still did not understand what living means and we are going to stop them so that earth can become what it should have been for centuries.
Anna Lyse…good thoughts. Keep putting them out there. I heard you, other’s will too.
governments already realise,, they have realised for over 100 years and they don’t CARE
Russian Nuke – Tidal Wave – New York – It’s Coming – Urgent Alert!
/politics/2017/06/russian-nuke-tidal-wave-new-york-its-coming-urgent-alert-2914645.html
Don’t upvote yourself every time you post a comment, Jonny.
You’re almost the only person who does that around here.
He also deletes comments which he cannot denounce, such as his creationist beliefs that the earth is 6000 years old according to Torah interpretations. China is older than his world.
Apparently, Michael Fallon was so proud of the new HMS Queen Elizabeth on its maiden voyage, he felt it was appropriate to suggest that the Russians would look upon it “with a little bit of envy”. He further suggested that Russia’s only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov is “dilapidated”.
In response, the Russian defence ministry suggested that “the British aircraft carrier is merely a large convenient naval target.” The ministry further warned that -”It is in the interests of the British Royal Navy not to show off the ‘beauty’ of its aircraft carrier on the high seas any closer than a few hundred miles from its Russian ‘distant relative.”
It’s a race to the finish line to see which misbegotten meatmasher is going to get this party started.
Too many hot heads driving around with too much shiny new firepower and even some old ass but bad ass firepower.
“Tell your god to ready for blood.”
— Al Swearengen
time to send the pollyticians to fight the wars they start – and bring the troops home
we kill two birds (war & politicians) with one stone
Doc, from what I can tell, the difference between Russian and Western military development, is that Russia takes it’s old battle proven designs and decides how they can employ advancements in modern technology to improve on their proven designs. Whereas in the West, we tend to scrap proven platforms and begin from scratch. This means unnecessary billions spent on research and development and an unproven final product, full of unforseeable glitches. This method keeps the private “defence” contractors happy, as starting from scratch guarantees multi-billion dollar contracts, as opposed to million dollar contracts. That’s why Murcia spends more on its military than all other countries on earth, combined. It’s a ginormous theft of public funds.
It to mention, these private “defence” contractors are outsourcing critical components of their products in the name of maximizing profits. The outsourcing of ECU’s to China is an example that comes to mind.
Back doors galore.
Imagine Uncle Sam wages war on China and all of the sudden, all US equipment made with Chinese ECU’s is rendered inoperable. Oh well, Lockheed Skunkworks saved a few bucks.
Correction: “…’Not’ to mention…”
Either we’re as dumb as we look or we’re really good at looking dumb.
I don’t expect too long a wait before we get to the bottom of that enigma.
A sad but true reality, indeed. Either way, no one “wins”.
Happy Independence Day, my friend. I’m being sincere and hope you are doing well
They might, but they would laugh at it being the worlds largest helicopter carrier, the F35 will never fly off its decks.
I see a -1 on my comment, but no contradictory response from anyone. Typical cowardice. “I don’t like what you said, but my room temperature IQ prevents me from stringing together a rebuttal. So, I’ll just vote your comment down and remain in my ‘blissful’ comfort zone, in the shadows with my head up my arse.”
True, but -1 can be rather piss poor, even appears you already lost that. I’ve found that when you’ve really accomplished something, hit upon some truth(s) that prick something existential here in the moronosphere, better negative numbers or a backlash results, acidic comments in very poorly structured English that would embarrass your fifth grader and leave you with the solid impression the glass is past half empty, in the world at large, which, after all, it is.
So, you get no bragging rights for a -1! A -1 is actually as common as dirt, usually the result of mere facts. If you want a shot at better negatives, try upping your game, give them the facts, then tell them something like, “By the way, you’re all also going to hell, if you don’t repent.” You have to draw out your typical clueless, unregenerate and fearful of their own shadow weenie, light on critical thinking skills. You probably deserve a -1, that you failed to maintain your -1. This is BIN, for crying out loud!
See, -2 and counting. Should have included a Bible verse, like this, simply glorious how liars do not like this!
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
But you’d think I’d get some thanks. I’m like being their personal trainer, in the weeping and gnashing of teeth department, Matthew 13:42,50.
Thanks for the advice, but strangely enough, I don’t recall asking for it?
I am no stranger to this site. I know how it works. Most people who read the comment section are familiar with the thousands of comments I’ve made over the years and they know full well where I stand. Personally, if I vote someone’s comment down, I like to tell them why and give them a chance to respond. From there, it can be determined if an objective discussion is possible, because open dialogue is the only way to get to the bottom of anything.
Although it appears you believe the BIN voting system works like a golf scorecard, (and to some extent, you are correct) I will refrain from giving you the satisfaction of another negative vote, at least for now.
“I will refrain from giving you the satisfaction of another negative vote, at least for now.”
What a skinflint! No generosity at all. What will it take? Offering a worthless YouTube video? Threatening to sic the Bigfeets on you? Have your carrier mark your mailbox for death?
What? WHUT?! -7! Hot damn, with Illuminati secret sauce, on a sesame seed bun!
I won the BIN Powerball!!! I feel joy sublime, think I’ll go after that Buddhist, frog perv, the King of Shamblabla, for the crown! Eat your heart out, KOS!
Though it does dull the celebration that, like the original complaint, -7 and no acidic remarks, crafted in verbiage that resembles a Scrabble game, halfway in progress? At this point, something as simple as a sentence fragment, like my mother and combat boots, would do. Am I going to have to threaten all of you with posting things reality based, otherwise known as the nuclear option, at BIN?
“Though it does dull the celebration that, like the original complaint, -7 and no acidic remarks…”
Exactly.
I haven’t been able to vote up or down since I installed Adblocker, but I would have given you an upvote. So, you are only -6, not -7. But -6 is still very commendable.
Thank you, Mitch51, though the technology is getting in your way, I do appreciate the thought. And what the hay? It’s back to -7 at this writing! On the other hand, not wishing to throw cold water on anything, I had hoped to reach double digits, am somewhat disappointed today. Things were looking so promising! But that’s probably being glutinous. It’s just, you see, BIN being a degenerative environment and all, you begin having certain expectations, aspirations. Anyway, alright then, and maybe I got shutdown by announcements of the daily economic collapses and incidents of thermonuclear war, Nibiru in low earth orbit or somebody discovered the fossil of an iPhone, but you think it’s perhaps at least in order I get a rebate on my clicks?