Best Of: The Time is Right for Light Carriers

Posted: May 28th, 2017

By Peter Haynes

Dr. Peter Haynes is a Senior Fellow at CSBA specializing in grand strategy, maritime and naval strategy, the development of strategy and operational concepts, naval and air warfare, the future of conflict, special operations, and irregular warfare. Prior to retiring from the U.S. Navy in 2016 as a captain, he served as the Deputy Director, Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J5) at U.S. Special Operations Command. He is the author of "Toward a New Maritime Strategy: American Naval Thinking in the Post-Cold War Era."

Editor’s Note: For this year’s Memorial Day feature, The Cipher Brief revisits its coverage examining the future of U.S. aircraft carriers.

Some planners advocate building smaller carriers that could employ many U.S. Navy supercarriers’ capabilities at less cost. With the right aircraft, a light carrier could undertake long-range strike, counter-air and reconnaissance, and sea control missions to deter conflict, manage escalation, and project U.S. power. The Cipher Brief spoke to Peter Haynes, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, about how light carriers could be integrated into future naval operations.

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