A modern emergency carrier still needs speed and range, but nuclear propulsion cannot be expanded as readily as large gas-turbine production. Designers must then choose between catapult-assisted aviation and V/STOL aircraft according to which production system can scale in wartime. Electromagnetic catapults require specialized components, while V/STOL aviation depends on the availability of suitable aircraft. Command-and-control equipment, air groups, and escorts create additional bottlenecks, so an industrial plan must exist before emergency money arrives.
Chapter · 51:35-53:33
A modern emergency carrier starts with industrial choices
Gas turbines, launch systems, aircraft supply, command equipment, and escorts matter more to rapid carrier construction than an abstract budget alone.