The U.S.Navy sees its future fleet comprised of more than 350 manned ships and about 150 unmanned ships hoping technology means lower operating costs as it prepares to counter a growing Chinese fleet, according to aNavyreport released Tuesday.
The plan for the 2040s and beyond underscored“the need to address long-term competition with China and sustain military advantage against Russia.”It forecasts fleet numbersup slightly from a 2021Navylong-range shipbuilding plan which had a range of 321 to 372 manned ships and 77 to 140 large unmanned vessels.
Huntington Ingalls Industries Incand General Dynamics Corpare the largest ship builders in theUnited Stateswith other weapons makers like Boeing Co working on unmanned ships programs.
Today theNavyhas 298 ships in its “battle force” which ignores scores of resupply and logistics ships.
TheNavy’s proposedfiscal year2023 budget requested $27.9 billion in shipbuilding fundingfor eightnew ships, including two Virginia class attack submarines, two Arleigh Burke destroyers, and one Constellation frigate.
The U.S. Congress is working to add ships to theNavy’s fleet.
