US Tests 'Lightning Carriers' That Are 'Better Than' China's Existing Flattops To Defend Taiwan

Amid growing fears that Beijing may decide to invade Taiwan before the end of the decade, the U.S. Navy is working on several contingency plans and testing new concepts that will enable it to make the most out of its existing ships and aircraft to counter Chinese attempts.

Given the rapid expansion and modernization of the PLA forces, the Navy and the Marine Corps are experimenting with the "lightning carrier" concept that turns amphibious ships into small aircraft carriers, offering further flexibility to naval operations.

The concept was demonstrated for the first time by the two services in an exercise on USS Tripoli when 20 of its F-35B Lightning II jets were operated in the Pacific Ocean. F-35Bs are single-seat, single-engine, all-weather, stealth combat aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing, useful to gain air superiority and perform strike missions.

The lightning carrier concept is more capable than China's two aircraft carriers that are presently in service, according to Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, the commanding officer of the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet which operates in the Indo-Pacific region.

To demonstrate the "lightning carrier" concept, the USS Tripoli spent several months sailing with over a dozen F-35B jets operating like a light aircraft carrier rather than an amphibious assault ship designed to carry Marines, helicopters, and vertical-takeoff aircraft, as per a Business Insider report.

The Navy believes that a "lightning carrier" will enable the U.S. forces to quickly project power with a more distributed force in the Indo-Pacific region.

"One day you can have F-35Bs on the flight deck. The next day you can have MV-22s and you can be putting Marines at the shore, and so it just is a very versatile instrument," Thomas reportedly said while talking about how the Navy was working to expand its firepower in the region.

The Navy is said to be still experimenting with how to integrate its lightning carrier with "a full-size carrier" and its carrier strike group, which includes a carrier, escort ships, and at least one submarine.

Adding to the firepower of the lighting carriers, Thomas said, "There is no comparison between a J-15 and an F-35B." The J-15 is China's main carrier aircraft which experts argue will be unable to compete with a U.S. carrier-launched F-35B.

Considering the rapid military modernization of China, a report by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) has warned that Washington's decision to build or procure new ships now will only have a small impact during the so-called Davidson Window, or "decade of concern," for a potential forced unification of Taiwan with the mainland.

Meanwhile, to counter Beijing, the U.S. is also expanding its military footprint in the Indo-Pacific. Apart from building closer defense cooperation with allies in the region, part of Washington's strategy is to distribute its forces across the western Pacific aimed at complicating China's missile targeting decision in the event of a conflict.