The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis, left, and USS Ronald Reagan conduct carrier strike group operations in the Philippine Sea on July 17, 2016. Jake Greenberg/U.S. Navy
Despite the challenges, the Navy should double the number of American aircraft carrier strike groups operating in the Western Pacific, in part to counter China’s aggressive expansionism, analysts say.
Forward-stationing another carrier west of the international dateline was recommended in a Defense Department-commissioned report, “Asia Pacific Rebalance 2025: Capabilities, Presence and Partnerships,” published this year by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
China’s growing assertiveness and increasingly capable air, naval and missile forces reinforce the need for more U.S. Naval forces in the region, especially carrier strike groups, the report said.
“A larger demonstration of U.S. will and capability is necessary for deterrence and reassurance purposes,” said the report, which added the Navy should examine the steps needed to move a second carrier strike group to the Far East. One possible location would be Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan.
“There is a unique political opportunity to shift a carrier forward in 2019 because the U.S. fleet is scheduled to add the USS Gerald R. Ford, which will deploy to California and would therefore permit movement of an older carrier forward without decrementing home-ported U.S. carriers,” the report said.
Tetsuo Kotani, a research fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs, addressed issues — particularly logistical and political concerns — that would be at play if a second U.S. carrier were brought to Japan. For example, there’s a lack of airport capacity in Japan to accommodate planes from a second carrier, he said during a lecture Tuesday just outside Yokosuka, headquarters of the U.S. 7th Fleet.
“We are now transferring a carrier air wing from [Naval Air Facility] Atsugi to [Marine Corps Air Station] Iwakuni. These airports are busy. Misawa [Air Base in northern Japan] is also busy,” Kotani said.
The Philippines recently signed a new basing agreement with the U.S., but it doesn’t allow for permanent stationing of U.S. forces there. Australia lacks….
Read more at Navy
from DefenseNewz.com http://ift.tt/2aHLI2H
via Defense News
No comments: