In 1996, the US aircraft carrier strike group could still pose a serious threat to China's southeastern coastal areas. How come now, even if the entire US Seventh Fleet were to set out collectively, it cannot pass through the South China Sea?
This is because the US Navy has encountered three catastrophic failure projects, which means that its development direction over the past 20 years has been completely wrong.
The US had high hopes for the Zumwalt-class next-generation multipurpose land-attack Aegis destroyer project, but it has now completely failed. Cost overruns and frequent malfunctions have made it a costly white elephant with little combat capability. The two expensive advanced 155mm naval guns cost $1 million per round of long-range ammunition. The contract order for this equipment has been slashed from 33 ships down to just 3.
The LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) is directly referred to as the worst warship of the 21st century, almost having no air defense or anti-ship capabilities. Maintenance costs are 2.5 to 3 times higher than those of warships of similar tonnage. The superstructure is made of aluminum alloy shells, which are not resistant to damage. Out of the 13 Independence-class LCS already in service with the US military, 6 have developed hull cracks.
This means that the US military's new destroyer and frigate projects have all failed, wasting more than 20 years of time. Even the final EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System) Ford-class aircraft carrier project has been fraught with difficulties, experiencing constant problems with the power system, electromagnetic catapult system, elevators, and severe issues with clogged toilets over the course of 8 years.
During these 20 years, while one side has declined and the other has grown stronger, you can see now that China's navy has gained a significant advantage over the US Seventh Fleet in the Asia-Pacific region.
Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829268314291203/
Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author only.