Has the Loss of Organic Long Range Maritime Assets Put the Carrier Strike Group at Risk?

<p>Since the beginning of Naval Aviation the Surface Surveillance and Control (SSC) mission has had a primary aircraft assigned to it. During WWII the SSC assets were both land (non organic) and sea (organic) based. From the end of WWII to the end of the cold war the same can be said but at the end of the cold war the Navy had to cut spending and reduce the aircraft inventory. In 1997 the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) lost its organic long range Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) platform with the removal of all ASW gear from the S-3B. Later in 2001 the sundown or retirement for the S-3B aircraft was decided. Since the retirement of the S-3B other organic aircraft to the Carrier Strike Group have been filling the role left behind by the S-3B. Primarily these aircraft have been the F/A-18 Hornet and the E-2C Hawkeye. Are they up to the challenge? Not only are these aircraft up to the challenge but the Navy has a solid plan for future provided the Navy guards against arrogance.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>