Questioning the Carrier with Jeff Vandenengel - on Midrats
options
If we are approaching the end of the almost century-long age of the aircraft carrier, for the United States Navy, what are some of the options we could have in fleet designed to execute the Navy's mission in its place?
Challenges, opportunities, and compromises - we'll dive into it all with guest Jeff Vandenengel, CDR USN.
The reference point for our conversation will be his new book, Questioning the Carrier: Opportunities in Fleet Design for the U.S. Navy.
Jeff completed three tours on fast-attack submarines. Winner of the 2019 Admiral Willis Lent Award for tactical excellence at sea, he deployed to the Western Pacific three times and to the Atlantic at the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
You can listen here or below.
Carriers have utility. It’s the airwings that need a spanking. Need a long range air defense fighter.
Really what I question is the capacity of the industrial base to build and overhaul CVNs (and SSN) on time and budget. But considering the monopoly 2 contractors have on the process that’s unlikely to improve.