The US Navy's aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships began to deploy fifth-generation aircraft in actual combat duty, which gave the US media bragging confidence. An article published on the U.S. Naval Association website on Jan. 20 boasted that more than 20 U.S. Navy and Marine Corps F-35 fighter jets are currently deployed on U.S. Navy ships in the Indo-Pacific region amid tensions between the United States and China.
The article found the historical significance of this deployment — the largest number of fifth-generation aircraft deployed in the Indo-Pacific region in the history of the U.S. Navy. Increasing the deployment of aircraft carriers with F-35 series fighters could help "deter China" and prevent China from "attacking Taiwan and achieving a fait accompli."
F-35C fighter on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson Image source: USNI
There are currently three carrier-based F-35 series fighter squadrons deployed around China, namely the VFA-147 attack fighter squadron deployed on the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, with 10 F-35Cs; the U.S. Marine Corps 314 Attack Squadron (VMFA-314) deployed on the "Lincoln" aircraft carrier, which also has 10 F-35Cs; and the F-35B squadron deployed on the amphibious assault ship "America", which may have 6-8 fighters.
Last year, with the "encouragement" of two F-35B squadrons of the British Royal Navy's "Queen Elizabeth", the Anglo-American coalition deployed as many as 28 F-35 series fighters in the Indo-Pacific region.
Increasing the deployment of aircraft carriers with F-35 series fighters could help "deter China" and prevent China from "attacking Taiwan and achieving a fait accompli."
Asked what he thought of the Navy's deployment of F-35s on aircraft carriers, Chief of Naval Operations Carlos Del Toro said, "It's a good thing." We're doing it right now. Not only are we doing this now, but we have deployed the F-35B on the Izumo, an aircraft carrier modifier for a Japanese helicopter destroyer. And it was done very, very successfully. So that's the way forward. This shows once again that all of our allies and partners have similar platforms, with similar capabilities, and that we can truly integrate with our allies into an expeditionary strike group or amphibious readiness group. ”
Lawmakers at the House Armed Services seapower and project forces subcommittee recently mentioned that China has the potential to launch a full-scale attack on Taiwan within the next five years, and the U.S. military should use this as a reason to build a larger naval fleet in the Indo-Pacific region and maintain its continued presence.
Former Marine Corps officer and current Rep. Mike Gallagher said at the American Surface Ships Association's annual symposium last week: "If we fail to achieve the comprehensive deterrent capabilities required by the National Defense Strategy (NDS) of great power competition, I think it will reduce our ability to resist [PLA offensive] Taiwan to reach a fait accompli, and therefore more likely to face defeat on the battlefield where the other side attacks first." The new good news is that by increasing fleet strength, we can prevent this from happening and build a sufficient combat force by 2025 instead of 2045. ”
As of January 19, Beijing time, the U.S. Navy has deployed the aircraft carrier "Carl Vinson", the "Essex" amphibious assault ship, the "American" amphibious assault ship and the "Lincoln" aircraft carrier in the area around the South China Sea in the western Pacific Ocean, a total of 4 aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships composed of naval formations. The four main combat ships are expected to converge in the Philippine Sea this week.
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