Navy’s Latest Shipbuilding Plan Signals Little Change In Fleet Size For The Foreseeable Future (From Forbes)

The Navy this week delivered the latest version of its 30-year shipbuilding plan to Congress, and it is not being well received. The plan does not anticipate the size of the fleet growing in this decade, and foresees only modest growth in the 2030s. Although the warfighting capability of warships is gradually improving, the number of vessels is a more common metric for assessing naval power, and by that measure the plan is a disappointment. It contrasts markedly with the rapid pace of China’s naval buildup. I have written a commentary for Forbes here.