Political and operational pressure may preserve carrier numbers even as nuclear supercarriers become increasingly expensive. A fleet composed only of the largest design may struggle to buy enough decks for worldwide commitments and maintenance cycles. A two-tier force could retain the highest-end nuclear ships while adding conventionally powered carriers closer to Queen Elizabeth size. Those smaller general-purpose strike carriers would provide presence and aviation capacity for missions that do not demand the largest air wing.
Notable Point · 2:10:25-2:10:58
A two-tier US carrier fleet
Maintaining enough decks may push the US Navy toward a mix of nuclear supercarriers and smaller general-purpose strike carriers.