Can the Navy Handle Accelerating to a 500-Ship Fleet

Kris Osborn

Hello and welcome to the Center for Military Modernization, Warrior Maven, very significant conversation today in a changing global threat environment. We are joined by two representatives of industrial base coalition’s one for the amphibious warfare ship based coalition, as well as one for the aircraft carriers who have a specific expertise with construction and development of aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships.

So let’s make sure to welcome Captain Dave Forster, who is actually a former Navy captain, who was manager for the integrated combat system on the USS Zumwalt the well known famous stealthy destroyer program, and a former surface warfare officer. And then Mr. Rick Giannini, who’s in charge of the aircraft carrier industrial base coalition. He is also the CEO of the Milwaukee valve company. So both of these experts have a deep knowledge of Navy needs. And of course, the Navy’s situation. Thanks for both of you. Joining us today. Glad to be here.

If I recall, Admiral Gilday, the CNO of the Navy specifically is now calling for a 500 ship navy. That has long been on the radar as a point of discussion among decision makers and advocates for a larger Navy and the growing threat environment. So can should this be the case, and there is a continued expansion of shipbuilding? I’d love to get each of your thoughts on the pace and capabilities of the industrial base to accommodate that. We can start with Amphibs and then go to carriers.

Captain Dave Foster

Okay, great. So we believe in support the arrow the CMOS, stated need for 500 ships that the industrial base is well suited to be able to support that we believe with, with what actually Secretary Gertz did as part of the pandemic, which was in essence stabilizing the workforce by pushing acquisition pushing contracts. He maintained that that industrial base, such that they’re able to stand up and to begin to execute. When I’m a good Gilday envisions the future the Navy.

Kris Osborn Very interesting and on the carrier front. Mr. Giannini