F-35B (Non-US) Pocket Carriers

As the article notes, most of USN action are low sortie rate ones e.g. persian gulf action against ISIS ~10 sortie per day. Sending a CVN with a 160-270 sortie per day rate capability is an overkill (though the Navy will justify it as training since only wartime will we ever see even remotely close to 160 sorties per day).

Then just substitute a LHA/LHD with F-35B's. Oh, that is what they do right now.........

LHD similar to juan Carlos and Trieste offer a lot of capability for a "decent" cost however they are still out of price range for many countries.

NATO offers a mechanism whereby several small countries band together and purchase expensive equipment, this has been done for AWACS and tankers by European NATO countries.

The global warming, China and other developments point to an undefined future, making planning very hard. China does have global ambitions, and it has already started showing an interest in the arctic region, where NATO currently have few bases.

I suggest that an LHD developed with arctic conditions in mind (e.g. ice class similar to the Norwegian cost guard ships (up to 100 cm thick ice, etc.).

Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway could contribute, and buy a number of LHD, each equipped with several F-35B and loyal wingmen, and potentially "marines" for land operations. In particular Canada and the Netherlands have or will have very potent frigates (quasi destroyers) that can protect an amphibious task group. Subs is more of an issue, perhaps the UK can contribute. Split between so many countries it should be realistic to buy 6-8 LHD specifically designed for arctic conditions.

This proposal would also "force" some NATO countries to move closer to their promised 2% NATO spending goal...

Aircraft carrier tech offered to South Korea as Royal Navy extends horizons
21 Mar 2021 Alan Tovey

"Technology from the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers is being offered to South Korea as the country beefs up its military. Advanced systems and designs developed by the “carrier alliance” of Babcock, BAE Systems and Thales to deliver the UK’s two Queen Elizabeth-class vessels could be exported to the south-east Asian nation as the UK steps up efforts to reap the financial benefits of constructing the 65,000-tonne ships....

...In 2019, Korea announced a 290 trillion won (£180bn) defence spending spree over five years that included adding an aircraft carrier capable of handling F-35B jets, though it envisaged a smaller vessel than the Queen Elizabeth class, which also operates advanced fighter jets. The Royal Navy carriers have pioneered automated systems which reduce the number of crew they need, making them more efficient. One such invention is a highly mechanised weapons handling system, which lifts bombs and missiles from arsenals deep inside the ship up to the flight deck.

Developments like this mean the Queen Elizabeth and her sister ship Prince of Wales have crews of just 700 to operate them, rising to 1,600 when the air wing is included. By comparison, the US Nimitz-class carriers require 3,000 sailors to get under way and a further 1,800 to operate their aircraft.

Peter Sandeman, director of analyst group Navy Lookout [formerly SaveTheRoyalNavy], said: “A proposal has been floating around of a scaled-down carrier using the twin-island design from the Queen Elizabeth. “The new technology in the Navy’s new carriers, like the ammunition handling, aircraft lifts, the electric power system, is what Korea is interested in as that’s the really hard stuff.”...

Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/20 ... y-extends/

'Coarse Air fella' seems to have prognosticated OK: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=20426&p=451388&hilit=light+carrier#p451388

New Small Aircraft Carrier Unlikely, Admiral Says As US Navy Begins New Assessment
30 Mar 2021 Marcus Weisgerber

"Air warfare chief: “I believe the L-class ships operating with the F-35B fit that bill.” The U.S. Navy likely has no need to add a proposed small-deck aircraft carrier to its existing amphibious assault ships, a top admiral said Tuesday ahead of a formal review of the concept.

“I believe the L-class ships operating with the F-35B fit that bill,” Rear Adm. Gregory Harris, who leads his service’s air warfare division at the Pentagon, said during a virtual Navy League event Tuesday. “Others would disagree and that's OK. I think the beautiful part of any study is that it'll take the most current data.” L-class ships include the Wasp- and America-class amphibious assault ships (LHDs and LHAs)....

...The Navy is preparing to launch a formal review — called an analysis of alternatives — that will look at options for a light aircraft carrier and the type of ship that replaced the Ford-class, the never class of supercarriers...." [I like the way the admirable [yes I know] has forecast the result]

Source: https://www.defenseone.com/business/202 ... nt/173024/

Hardly, surprising......