CVX Carrier

This monograph is part of IFPA's continuing assessment of the post-Cold War security environment and the contribution of American military posture to global security. The study examines the next-generation aircraft carrier known as the CVX. To be commissioned in 2013, the CVX will have a broad range of post-Cold War missions ranging from major theater wars similar to Desert Storm to small-scale contingencies such as recent actions in Haiti and Liberia.

"Thank you for sharing your superb monograph, CVX : A Smart Carrier for the New Era. I found your discussion interesting, insightful, and right on the mark-as usual! Your rigorous analysis thoroughly demonstrates why CVX will be a cornerstone system of our Navy and the foundation of America's forward defense throughout the 21st century."

Admiral Jay L. Johnson, USN Chief of Naval Operations

With the CVX still in its conceptual stages, the Institute explores a number of issues that remain to be settled, including:

The possibility of using non-nuclear advanced-technology propulsion
The type and level of technological sophistication to be incorporated into the design
The effect that future aircraft programs , such as the F/A-18E/F, the Joint Strike Fighter, and uninhabited combat aerial vehicles, will have on the carrier's configuration
How the CVX will be used, including its contribution to the Navy's Cooperative Engagement Capability, and the role it might play in a sea-based theater missile defense
The implications of the CVX and its possible uses on doctrine and operational concepts
Industrial-base considerations associated with the development of a new class of aircraft carrier