US flaunts the future of naval airpower

The USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) aircraft carrier has stolen the show at the RIMPAC 2024, flexing a powerhouse air wing and cutting-edge naval capabilities.

Naval News reported that the USS Carl Vinson showcased its advanced air wing, known as CVW-2, during July’s biannual Rim of the Pacific Exercise, the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise.

The CVW-2 includes cutting-edge US aircraft such as the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Block III Super Hornet, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, EA-18G Growler and MH-60R/S Seahawk.

The Naval News report mentions that the carrier strike group demonstrated new capabilities such as the long-range AIM-174B air-to-air missile, adapted from the surface-launched SM-6 Block IA, and the AN/ALQ-249 (V)1 electronic warfare (EW) pods for the EA-18G Growler, enhancing its electronic attack and cyber warfare capabilities.

It also says that the AARGM-ER (AGM-88G), an advanced anti-radiation missile, is also expected to join the air wing’s arsenal.

Naval News mentions that the USS Carl Vinson’s deployment with the Air Wing Of The Future (AWOTF) concept is part of the US Navy’s broader strategy to advance its air wing capabilities across the fleet, particularly in the Pacific region, as it pivots to the Indo-Pacific.

It notes that this deployment marks the second time the USS Carl Vinson has operated under the AWOTF concept, following the USS Abraham Lincoln’s deployment with F-35C Lightning IIs.

In an April 2022 Hudson Institute report, Bryan Clark and Timothy Walton discuss US naval forces’ strategic challenges in light of growing challenges from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Clark and Walton emphasize how these potential adversaries enhance their military capabilities, particularly in precision missiles, which can hinder US military operations and force them to operate from greater distances.

They highlight the importance of airpower for achieving the necessary reach to counter aggression, as naval forces will increasingly rely on air operations to maintain superiority in contested spaces.

They stress the necessity of evolving US naval aviation strategies and capabilities to address these sophisticated threats and ensure effective maritime operations in a high-threat environment​.

In line with Clark and Walton’s assessment, the “Navy Aviation Vision 2030-2035” document outlines US naval aviation’s ends, ways and means to ensure readiness, enhance capabilities and address challenges from near-peer adversaries.

According to the document, US naval aviation’s strategic objectives can be deduced as:

• Maintaining Maritime Superiority: Ensure the US Navy can project power and establish sea control in any maritime theater.
• Enhancing Lethality and Readiness: Develop a force with advanced capabilities and readiness capable of winning against all adversaries.
• Supporting National Defense Strategy: Align naval aviation force structure with the US National Defense Strategy to effectively deter and defeat adversaries.

The document outlines the ways or lines of effort US naval aviation will pursue to achieve its strategic objectives, namely:

• Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO): Implement DMO to provide a strong, synchronized maritime component capable of delivering lethal and non-lethal efforts from multiple axes and domains.
• Advanced Training Programs: Revolutionize training through initiatives like Naval Aviation Training Next (NATN), Live/Virtual/Constructive (LVC) training, and Air Wing Fallon training to prepare for high-end threats.
• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with industry to develop open architecture systems, ensuring faster and more effective integration of new technologies.

It also mentions the assets needed to implement the strategy, specifically aircraft carriers, carrier strike wings (CVW), unmanned aerial systems (UAS), advanced weapons (i.e., hypersonic weapons), integrated networks and training systems.

However, Matt Wright mentions in a March 2024 US Naval Institute article that while  US naval aviation is undergoing a significant transition to the AWOTF concept, introducing new technologies like the MQ-25A Stingray for aerial refueling has been delayed, affecting operational capabilities.

Wright notes that delays stem from difficulties incorporating new technologies such as the electromagnetic launch system (EMALS) and advanced weapons elevators, delaying operational readiness.

He says aggressive developmental test and evaluation plans for systems like the MQ-25A Stingray led to production delays and pushed back initial operational capability (IOC) dates.

Wright points out that accidents such as the November 2022 V-22 Osprey crash in Japan have forced the grounding of all V-22 variants and have slowed the transition from C-2A Greyhounds to CMV-22s.

He mentions that tight budgets have impacted the generational change in naval aviation, affecting the procurement and introduction of new platforms and weapons systems.

In addition to those challenges, in May 2024, key leaders from the Naval Aviation Enterprise discussed critical challenges facing US naval aviation at the Naval Aviation 3-Star Summit held in Lexington Park, Maryland.

The panel, including US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) commander Vice Admiral Carl Chebi and other high-ranking officials, addressed issues such as recruitment and retention, budget constraints and the need for rapid innovation to keep pace with industry capabilities.

They emphasized the importance of flexibility in the requirements process and leveraging existing authorities to enhance warfighting capabilities. The discussion also highlighted the role of automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning in improving aviation safety and logistics, particularly in high-end combat scenarios.

The summit underscored the ongoing efforts to modernize training systems including by replacing the T-45 Goshawk and collaborating with other services and industry partners to develop future weapons solutions.

Alex Luck notes in a March 2024 article for Naval News that China’s naval aviation capabilities are advancing with significant developments in its aircraft carrier programs.

Luck mentions that China’s Liaoning carrier has completed a midlife modernization in Dalian while the new Fujian carrier is undergoing sea trials.

He says that the Fujian, China’s first catapult-equipped carrier, is expected to enhance the People’s Liberation Army-Navy’s (PLA-N) operational capacity.

He notes the introduction of new Chinese aircraft, including the KJ-600 airborne early warning and control plane, which resembles the US Navy’s E-2 Hawkeye, and the J-35 fighter, designed to replace the J-15 as a next-generation aircraft.

Luck says the J-15, China’s mainstay carrier-based fighter on the Liaoning and Shandong carriers, has also seen developments with variants for training, electronic warfare and catapult launch.

He notes that these advancements suggest a robust progression in China’s efforts to modernize its carrier fleet and expand its maritime power projection capabilities.