Really fascinating primer on the economics of aircraft carriers.
Link: Costing the CVN-21: A DID Primer.
Designing any weapons system to be able to serve effectively for 50 years is no easy task. The aircraft on it will change several times, as will its built-in weapons systems. Meanwhile, Moore's Law will continue its relentless march on the electronics front. The carrier must adapt to all of these changes over its life cycle, and the increased dependence on electronics and automation in risks escalating maintenance requirements if any of the components prove buggy or don't integrate well together.
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