A new naval combat concept demonstrated by the US shows that amphibious ships can be turned into small

aircraft carriers, adding power and flexibility to the nation’s navy, say analysts,

The “Lightning carrier concept” was demonstrated by the US Navy and Marine Corps in an exercise from March 30 to April 8 when 20 of its F-35B Lightning II jets were operated from an amphibious assault carrier — the America-class USS Tripoli — for the first time, according to a release by the Marine Corps.

The display showed that 

the US military could operate amphibious assault carriers with fifth-generation aircraft, turning the ships into smaller aircraft carriers.

US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli demonstrates the US Marine Corps’ lightning carrier concept, 7 Apr 2022.

Photo: US Marine Corps/Sgt Samuel Ruiz

The approach was incrementally developed on an earlier strategy, which used amphibious assault ships to support AV-8B Harriers, a single-engine ground-attack aircraft capable of vertical or short take-off and landing.

Also capable of vertical take-off and landing, the F-35B is a single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft intended to both assert air superiority and perform strike missions. The display showed that the US military could operate amphibious assault carriers with fifth-generation aircraft, turning the ships into smaller aircraft carriers.

The approach was incrementally developed on an earlier strategy, which used amphibious assault ships to support AV-8B Harriers, a single-engine ground-attack aircraft capable of vertical or short take-off and landing.

China’s fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-20, is a twinjet all-weather stealth fighter but, unlike the F-35, it cannot perform short take-offs and vertical landings.  fewer large vessels, China has the world’s largest navy fleet, relying disproportionately on smaller classes of ships.

Zhou Chenming, a researcher from the Yuan Wang military science and technology think tank in Beijing, said the Lightning carrier strategy held lessons for China, especially showing how different military units could coordinate in a strike. “This is a threatening concept. Beijing should carefully watch if the US uses this tactic to advance its interests and go against China, like in the South China Sea region,” Zhou said.

The US has 11 aircraft carriers and eight amphibious assault ships, all regularly sailing around the world. The USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier, has returned to the South China Sea following a five-day port call to Singapore, departing Changi Naval Base on Tuesday.

It comes amid worsening ties between the US and China, with a potential visit by US House Speaker

 necessary. Source: Australian Naval Institute