Floating Liabilities: Aircraft Carriers in the Age of Precision Strike and Irregular Warfare

This podcast explores how aircraft carriers have transitioned into highly vulnerable, conditional instruments of power, as demonstrated by mid-tier adversaries using low-cost drones and advanced precision missiles to force these multi-billion-dollar assets out of combat range during the 2025–2026 Middle East conflict. To counter these strategic and financial liabilities, it highlights critical naval adaptations, including a shift toward long-range unmanned systems, restructured escort economics, and a highly distributed strike architecture.