Despite some improvements in combat readiness, the U.S. military has “marginal” overall capability to meet the increasing global security challenges it faces because all four of the armed services are too small and much of their major combat systems are too old, according to the latest of the…
Modly Doubts Future Budgets Will Allow for 355-Ship Fleet
The size of the current fleet, the high cost of new ships and the likely lack of growth in future budgets will make it difficult for the Navy to reach the current goal of a 355-ship battle fleet, the Navy’s…
‘Great Power’ Fight Might Require Different Blend of Vessels, But Marines Won’t Shun Amphibious Operations, NDIA Speakers Say
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Despite the commandant’s stark warning about the vulnerability of current amphibious warships, the Marines are not moving away from amphibious operations. But to operate in the future highly contested littoral waters, the amphibious force must be more…
Berger Plan to Build More Smaller and Cheaper Ships Could Greatly Expand Available Expeditionary Force, Analysts Tell NDIA Conference
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger’s proposal to build a lot of different, smaller and cheaper ships — including unmanned vessels — to substitute for or augment large amphibious warships is not yet clearly defined, but presents…
New Force Structure Assessment Will Address Needs of ‘Great Power Competition,’ Two Top Requirements Officers Say
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — U.S. Navy and Marine Corps requirements and capabilities leaders are working together to produce an Integrated Naval Force Structure Assessment, which will replace the Navy assessment that usually shapes the shipbuilding plan, the two top requirements officers…
Five Transport Vessels Survive, Thrive in Hostile Water Simulation, Tactical Adviser Says
Aware that in the increasingly tense global security environment the U.S. Navy’s sealift and logistical support fleet may have to sail through seas contested by a near peer adversary, U.S. Transportation Command recently sent five unarmed transport vessels through simulated…
MDA Director Advocates Missile Defense Integration at Forum
The emergence of more capable missile threats — more precise and maneuverable ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles — requires more capable sensors in space and total integration of all missile defense systems and sensors in space, on land and at…
Commandant Stresses Marine Corps Must Change to Meet Peer Threats
The return to an era of ‘great power competition’ and the emergence of peer military threats “demands in no uncertain terms that the services need to change to meet the challenges of the new world.” For the Marine Corps, that…
Most Sealift Vessels Measured Up in 32-Ship ‘Pressure Test,’ Army General Says
Most of the ships mobilized in a severe “stress test” of the Maritime Administration’s and Military Sealift Command’s ability to get their aged fleets under way in a crisis did “pretty well,” but the commander of the U.S. Transportation Command…
McRaven Implores Sides to ‘Calm Down a Bit’ After Saudi Oil Facility Attack
The former commander of Special Operations Command and the Navy SEAL leader who directed the raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden said he is “not overly concerned” about the current crisis with Iran, but he is worried…
