Video Above: U.S. Carrier Strike Group & Amphibious Assault Ships War Game in South China Sea
By Kris Osborn – Warrior Maven
(Washington, D.C.) With the Navy’s 2022 budget for shipbuilding decreasing below anticipated hopes or expectations voiced by those in favor of greatly increasing the service’s overall fleet size to keep pace with China, senior Navy leaders acknowledge the service is not on track to reach its goal of a 355-ship fleet with the current pace.
The Navy budget requests eight new ships for 2022, a number which, if not adjusted in future years, does not put the service on track.
“I would tell you that eight ships a year is not going to get to 355. And so all things being equal, if you have a 300-ship navy and a 30-year life, you have to recapitalize at 10 per year and so eight is not going to do it,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Budget Rear Adm. John Gumbleton told reporters, according to a Pentagon transcript.
Alongside these comments, Gumbleton did clearly emphasize his support for the budget, suggesting that determinations about shipbuilding consider a mix of readiness, modernization, maintenance and of course budget constraints. Furthermore, Gumbleton did say the service’s plan to build 8 ships is the same as last year.
“We’re consistent with last year’s request of eight ships. We’re requesting eight this year again. And we have to manage. Again, it’s all about not having a hollow force, making sure we’re ready today, modernizing for tomorrow and then investing for the future. And with this top-line allocated, this is the right blend to do that,” Gumbleton.
