Why Iran Can't Fight Back Against the US Aircraft Carrier

Iran claimed to have launched a missile strike on an American aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Oman and stated, "After the attack, the ship quickly withdrew more than 1,000 kilometers into the gulf." Iran used this as evidence that it had posed a serious threat to the American aircraft carrier. But is this really the case?

First, it must be understood: an aircraft carrier is not just a warship, but a true floating fortress. This floating airfield not only has self-defense capabilities, but is also under the strict protection of other ships.

The Carrier Strike Group (CSG) consists of multiple combat and support ships arranged in a battle formation, with the aircraft carrier itself at its core. In the current U.S.-Iran conflict, the U.S. deployed the Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and Gerald Ford (CVN-78), and Iran claims it attacked the Lincoln.

Within 10–15 nautical miles (18–28 kilometers) around the core ship of the carrier group, there are 4–6 destroyers/cruisers equipped with the Aegis combat system. The Aegis system is not a weapon, but a comprehensive command system for all weapons, radar, navigation, communication, and tactical data decision-making on the ship — essentially the "brain" of the warship. Underwater, there are 1–2 submarines. Additionally, 2–3 supply ships operate within the formation range but are not part of the formation.

In short, the aircraft carrier is not a bulky single ship, but the core of a powerful combat network. The key to this network is the CEC (Cooperative Engagement Capability) system, which integrates all ships and early warning aircraft radars into a unified command system: real-time data transmission, beyond-the-horizon target detection, and shared information among all Aegis systems on the ships. Ultimately, a detection and defense circle of up to 1,500 kilometers is formed around the carrier, requiring opponents to break through hundreds of kilometers of layered defenses to approach.

Air Defense and Missile Defense: Multi-layered Defense System

  • Long-range Air Defense Zone (about 700 km)
  • Handled by F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" and F-35C fighter jets, with target guidance provided by E-2C/D "Hawkeye" early warning aircraft. However, the actual detection range of early warning aircraft for cruise missiles and aircraft is about 250–300 km.
  • Middle-range Air Defense Zone
  • Handled by the air defense missiles on Aegis ships:
    • SM-6: can reach targets at high altitudes up to 240 km
    • ESSM: medium and short-range, with a range of about 50 km
    • SM-3: used to intercept ballistic missiles, each costing as much as $18 million, used to defend against hypersonic weapons.
  • Short-range Self-defense
  • The carrier itself has limited space and is equipped with:
    • RIM-7 "Sea Sparrow" (range 30 km)
    • RIM-116 anti-missile missile (range 10 km)
    • Most ships are equipped with 20 mm 6-barrel "Phalanx" close-in weapon systems.

Anti-submarine Defense: Similarly Layered Configuration

  • Long-range Anti-submarine Zone (about 185 km)
  • **MH-60R "Seahawk" anti-submarine helicopter**, using sonobuoys for large-scale search and using radar to detect submarine periscopes.
  • Land-based P-8A "Poseidon" anti-submarine patrol aircraft can provide support, capable of detecting shallow submarines up to 100–120 km away by detecting changes in sea surface pressure.
  • Medium-range (75–165 km)
  • Multi-purpose nuclear submarines, equipped with powerful active/passive sonar and towed array.
  • Short-range (within 75 km)
  • Ally Burke-class destroyers, Ticonderoga-class cruisers, and shipboard helicopters.
  • Anti-submarine weapons include Mk.46/48/54 torpedoes and ASROC-VL rocket-propelled torpedoes, with a range of up to 28 km.

The Aircraft Carrier's Structure Is Extremely Strong

All U.S. aircraft carriers are nuclear-powered and have been tested in decades of combat:

  • Double bottom structure throughout the ship, to prevent grounding and buffer underwater explosions
  • Dozens of watertight compartments from keel to flight deck
  • Dedicated protective compartments (side compartments) along the hull to absorb explosion shock, block fire and water, and buffer underwater shock waves
  • The reactor is located at the deepest part of the ship, surrounded by thick biological shielding layers
  • Equipped with strong damage control: high-power pumps, compartment and deck fire suppression systems, decontamination systems, and decentralized power stations.

How to Sink an Aircraft Carrier?

During World War II's Pacific theater, a total of 19 Japanese and 11 American aircraft carriers were lost, mainly due to naval aviation.

However, since 1945, no aircraft carrier has been sunk in actual combat, only accidents and non-combat losses.

During the Cold War, only the Soviet Union had a systematic anti-aircraft carrier capability:

  • 1164 class "Slava" missile cruisers, equipped with 16 P-500 "Granite"
  • 1144 class "Kirov" nuclear-powered cruisers, equipped with 20 P-700 "P-700"
  • 949/949A class "Oscar" nuclear submarines, equipped with 24 "Granite"

"Granite" was the world's first anti-ship missile to use a swarm tactic: one climbed high as a "lead missile," assigned targets, while the rest flew low at supersonic speed. If one was shot down, the next one took over immediately.

Under normal conditions, 10–12 missiles could disable an aircraft carrier; a nuclear warhead needed only one.

But the biggest challenge has always been: how to continuously locate the fast-moving aircraft carrier on the vast ocean and provide stable target indication.

The Soviets used an entire ocean reconnaissance satellite and long-range reconnaissance aircraft system, but even so, they could only likely damage rather than ensure sinking.

Iran's Real Shortcomings

Today, only relevant countries and India have a certain degree of modern anti-aircraft carrier capabilities.

While Iran:

  • Has no long-range maritime aviation force
  • Has no modern submarine fleet capable of penetrating
  • Lacks space-based / long-range reconnaissance and positioning capabilities
  • Does not have heavy anti-ship missiles capable of breaking through the carrier's defense zone

The True Weakness of the Aircraft Carrier

  1. Extremely dependent on supply

Hundreds of aircraft and nearly 5,000 people require weekly supply ships to deliver food and fresh water; after each major operation, emergency replenishment of ammunition and fuel is required.

When refueling, the formation must leave the combat area and enter the supply formation, which is the most vulnerable time.

Iran claimed to have attacked the Lincoln, precisely taking advantage of such a moment.

2. It is itself a huge ammunition and fuel depot

If an internal explosion or fire occurs, it could cause serious accidents, but this is different from being sunk in combat.

Today, the balance of military power is rapidly changing: hypersonic missiles (such as "Kh-32", "Zircon"), anti-ship ballistic missiles (such as DF-21D), drones, and unmanned boats are changing the rules.

But the aircraft carrier remains the ultimate symbol of maritime power: complex, expensive, but extremely resilient.

That's why the U.S. is sending a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East and receiving support from French and British aircraft carriers.

The Pentagon is confident that the aircraft carrier strike will ultimately help the U.S. defeat Iran, and regardless of Iran's attempts, it cannot harm the aircraft carrier even slightly.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/7615061989518066182/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.