Caption
Chinese People's Liberation Army honour guard members march during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on November 12, 2025, in Beijing, China. (Getty Images)
The aircraft carrier has served as the lynchpin of American naval power for eight decades. However, given their cost and mounting Anti-Access/Area Denial threats, many observers have questioned whether it is worthwhile to continue to build large, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. In a new report, Hudson Institute’s Center for American Seapower provides a comprehensive analysis of the future of the aircraft carrier. Sharpening the Spear: The Carrier, the Joint Force, and High-End Conflict examines the role of Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) in high-end conflict, identifying capabilities and vulnerabilities, and offering innovative recommendations for policymakers and military strategists in terms of concepts, capabilities, and capacities. The report concludes that while many criticisms of the platform have merit, the unmatched flexibility and adaptability of the aircraft carrier will continue to make it a critical Navy contribution to joint U.S. warfighting capabilities.
On October 8th, Hudson released the report at an event in the Rayburn House Office Building. Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) gave keynote remarks on the role of the carrier in future warfighting. Bryan McGrath, deputy director of the Center for American Seapower, gave an overview of the report’s key insights, and Seth Cropsey, director of the Center for American Seapower, moderated a panel on the importance of the carrier in American military strategy. The panel featured Ronald O’Rourke, specialist in national defense at the Congressional Research Service; Robert Martinage, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments; and Timothy A. Walton, co-author of the report and principal at Alios Consulting Group.
Click here to view Bryan McGrath's and Timothy Walton's PowerPoint slides.
Related Events
20
January 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Canceled | A Conversation with Former METI Minister Nishimura on the Takaichi Government’s Economic Strategy
Featured Speakers:
Yasutoshi Nishimura
Kenneth R. Weinstein
20
January 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Canceled | A Conversation with Former METI Minister Nishimura on the Takaichi Government’s Economic Strategy
On January 20, Hudson Japan Chair Kenneth R. Weinstein will host Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, former head of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), for remarks on the Takaichi government’s economic security strategy.
Featured Speakers:
Yasutoshi Nishimura
Kenneth R. Weinstein
22
January 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Why Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Matter for America
Featured Speakers:
Bay Fang
Lisa Curtis
Alexis Mrachek
Hyun-Seung Lee
Moderator:
Olivia Enos
22
January 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Why Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Matter for America
At Hudson, policymakers, experts, and stakeholders will gather for a conversation on next steps the US government should take to provide a future for RFA and RFE/RL and ensure comprehensive information access around the globe.
Featured Speakers:
Bay Fang
Lisa Curtis
Alexis Mrachek
Hyun-Seung Lee
Moderator:
Olivia Enos
27
January 2026
In-Person Event | Washington Convention Center
Apex Defense Conference 2026
Featured Speakers:
Bryan Clark
Nadia Schadlow
Timothy A. Walton
27
January 2026
In-Person Event | Washington Convention Center
Apex Defense Conference 2026
Apex Defense, in collaboration with Hudson Institute, will host a dynamic defense technology event that unites warfighters, acquisition professionals, startups, small and medium businesses, investors and industry leaders to tackle operational challenges from the seabed to space.
Featured Speakers:
Bryan Clark
Nadia Schadlow
Timothy A. Walton
29
January 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Pax Silica: Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg on the AI Race and Economic Security
Featured Speakers:
Jacob Helberg
Joel Scanlon
29
January 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Pax Silica: Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg on the AI Race and Economic Security
Please join Under Secretary Helberg and Hudson Executive Vice President Joel Scanlon for a discussion on the Pax Silicia initiative, America’s strategy to win the global AI race, and the new geopolitical imperatives of economic security and technology.
Featured Speakers:
Jacob Helberg
Joel Scanlon
Related Research
Caption
(Screenshot via Fox Business)
Caption
An F-35C Lightning II launches from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln on October 2, 2025, in the Pacific Ocean. (US Navy)
Caption
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands at the end of a press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Getty Images)