Shipbuilding plan 'nobody likes'

WASHINGTON - CNO Adm. Mike Gilday mused about a day when the Navy might be able to buy a dozen or more ships per year. The Navy would be given needed funding levels. The surface ship industrial base would have grown capacity on the way to support building three destroyers, two or three frigates, and amphibs every year; and transport dock ships every other year. But in remarks last week, he noted that day is not yet here. The Navy continues to limit its spending requests. Its long-term fleet development plans are being based on expected funding levels, current shipyard capacity, leading to a fleet size "nobody likes.” Its FY 2023 requests are for nine new ships and sets the fleet on a path to decline from 298 ships today to 280 in 2027. The shipbuilding plan released April 20 lays out three paths. The route, based on current funding levels, only gets the Navy to about 320 ships by 2045. Ongoing decommissions are contributing to the decline, including all Freedom-variant LCS built by Marinette (Wis.) Marine. "There will be a debate (over all those decommionings) and it ought to be a debate on the Hill," CNO said.  According to the long-range plan, the Navy could afford to build a fleet of 318-322 ships in 2045 based on two scenarios of today’s funding levels. If Navy can secure an additional $75B beyond the current five-year budget window, it could increase fleet size to 363 manned ships by 2045. Any of the scenarios include hundreds of unmanned surface or sub-surface platforms. But, even the more aggressive spending plan doesn’t get the Navy where it wants to be. (Source: Defense News 04/29/22) US Navy envisions larger fleet despite long-range plans reflecting budget crunch (defensenews.com)