What is the role of the aircraft carrier?
A. The aircraft carrier continues to be the centerpiece of the forces, necessary for forward presence. Carriers support and operate aircraft that engage in attacks on airborne, afloat, and ashore targets that threaten free use of the sea; and engage in sustained operations in support of other forces. For example, just this month, Carrier Air Wing THREE aboard USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) was heavily involved in supporting air strikes in Iraq in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
