Bryan Clark and Jesse Sloman from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) has published a study, “Advancing Beyond the Beach, Amphibious Operations in an Era of Precision Weapons,” on how the Pentagon should carry out future amphibious warfare operations.
By U.S. Navy [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
One of the radical approach both authors proposed is for the Pentagon consider building a light aircraft carrier similar to the Midway-class. This will allow current carrier-borne aircraft such as the F/A-18 and E-2D support amphibious operations.
Displacing between 40,000 and 60,000 tons, these ships will have bigger hangars and flight decks to support more aircraft.
Good idea!, LHA-6 USS America 44,971 long tons; 844 x 106 feet. 20 F-35B with 2 MH-60S as a light aircraft carrier.