CVN Sortie Rates

[gsmith63]

Very interesting article (though with a slightly hyperbolic headline):

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-1 ... goals.html

Includes info on current and hoped-for US carrier aircraft sortie rates: "The Navy plans for Ford-class carriers to launch and recover 160 aircraft a day over a sustained period and 270 during a wartime surge; the Nimitz-class requirement is 120 a day and 192 during a surge."

Gregg

[ComDev]

Very interesting, thanks!

Note that these are the maximum rates and are bordering theoretical limits. Doing 192 for a current-day carrier sounds harsh - three 40-aircraft Alpha strikes + support sorties.

[Wiz33]

While I wont speculate on the Ford's sortie rate. The Nimitz class have been around for a long time and they would not put up those number unless they have data to back it up.