We must consider the lessons we can draw from the 600-ship Navy as we start to plan for our upcoming defense build-up. Should we, for instance, invest in new capacities to counter the rising Chinese threat? Will we be able to quickly deliver these additional capabilities?
The highest investment in naval fighting power in decades is requested in the fiscal year 2022 defense budget by the Biden administration. Additionally, it calls for the purchase of five additional E-2D aircraft. Only 298 ships make up the Navy's existing fleet, less than a quarter of what the country needs to adequately defend its interests.
The Navy has spent money on modeling and research into new ship designs. However, they aren't yet prepared for production. The Navy is spending money on simulations, war games, and mental workouts to ascertain the usefulness of these ships in real-world scenarios.
The number of ships needed to maintain a strong forward presence has not been produced by the Navy's present force organization. The size of the fleet as a whole has decreased as a result of this. The use of forward stationing and homeworking, however, has not greatly lessened the impact of the reduction.
The United States stationed troops at three operating hubs in the Western Pacific during the Cold War. Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines were among these ports. The Mediterranean was eventually highlighted by the US as an operational hub. The fleet of the Navy is still present in the Western Pacific, though.
The Navy's target of 350 manned and 150 unmanned vessels has not been met, despite some success in Rota, Spain, with the forward positioning of ships. As a result, there have been few small surface combatants for 30 years.
Two missions demand a significant number of ships to complete. The first step in thwarting Chinese anti-access and area-denial capabilities is Distributed Maritime Operations. The Navy's high-tech aircraft require a landing area, second. This deficit could be filled by increasing the number of small surface combatants.
Unmanned maritime systems are a crucial component of the warfighting force of the future. These systems can be utilized for a wide range of tasks, including as patrol, interdiction, and mine clearance. Additionally, they can protect sailors from danger. How many of these ships the U.S. Navy will require in the near future is unknown.
The Navy is still developing its unmanned fleet, according to a recent report from the Unmanned Task Force. It is a hybrid force that includes both manned and unmanned missile magazines and surface combatants. Muddled Manning is the term used to describe this strategy.
China's navy has now grown to be the greatest in the world in terms of the number of ships. Beijing is constructing new warships as part of its strategy to increase its regional sway. The United States' issues with anti-submarine capabilities coincide with this buildup.
The Navy must be able to balance its fleet to have the ability to defend against Chinese attacks in order to resist the Chinese navy. That necessitates thorough operational fleet design. In particular, the Navy must be able to absorb and replenish the losses of a larger force and train and equip its leaders and sailors.
