The RAND Blog

Aircraft Carriers

  • The Izumo warship moored at the harbor of the Japan United Marine shipyard in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, March 25, 2015

    commentary

    Does Japan Need an Aircraft Carrier?

    Japan has not possessed an aircraft carrier in more than 70 years. But that may soon change as the Japanese government is debating retrofitting a class of destroyers to turn them into aircraft carriers. Considering both operational needs and resources limitations, does an aircraft carrier for Japan make sense?

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    Oct 5, 2018

    Defense One

    Jeffrey W. Hornung

  • China

    commentary

    China's Naval Modernization: Where Is It Headed?

    The PLA Navy is expanding its capabilities and operations to reduce vulnerabilities in China’s near seas, but also to aggressively support its expanding global ambitions and challenge U.S. leadership in Asia.

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    Feb 10, 2016

    World Politics Review

    Timothy R. Heath

  • U.S. helicopter squadron in the Persian Gulf launches an MK-105 Mod 4 Sled
    Military Strategy

    commentary

    By Land and by Sea

    There are good reasons for the United States to rethink how it counterbalances Iran, reassures local allies, and projects power with fewer resources. However, tying down large numbers of fighter aircraft in the Gulf is likely only to exacerbate old problems and create new ones.

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    Jul 22, 2013

    Foreign Affairs

    Stacie L. Pettyjohn, Evan Braden Montgomery

  • commentary

    Atlantic Monthly and RAND View the Future

    The Atlantic Monthly Magazine features a compilation of ten short essays written by experts at RAND, collectively titled Headlines Over the Horizon. The RAND authors examined developments in international and military affairs drawing little attention today that are expected to be major issues in the next three to five years.

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    Aug 1, 2003

    Atlantic Monthly

    James A. Thomson