Eyeing China, Pentagon plans larger, 'more lethal' navy

Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/08/11/20180811-navy.jpg"/><figcaption>Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) transits the Pacific Ocean during an amphibious squadron and Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) integration (PMINT) exercise in April 2018. <em>Sabyn L. Marrs, U.S. Navy handout photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>WASHINGTON - Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced Wednesday an ambitious plan to expand the US Navy with a range of unmanned and autonomous ships, submarines and aircraft to confront the growing maritime challenge from China.</p><p>The Pentagon chief said a sweeping review of US naval power dubbed &quot;Future Forward&quot; had laid out a &quot;game-changer&quot; plan that would expand the US sea fleet to more than 355 ships, from the current 293. </p><p>The plan, which requires adding tens of billions of dollars to the US Navy&#x27;s budget between now and 2045, is aimed at maintaining superiority over Chinese naval forces, seen as the primary threat to the United States.</p><p>&quot;The future fleet will be more balanced in its ability to deliver lethal effects from the air, from the sea, and from under the sea,&quot; Esper said in a speech at the Rand Corp. in California.</p><p>The expansion will add &quot;more and smaller&quot; surface ships; more submarines; surface and subsurface vessels that are optionally manned, unmanned and autonomous; and a broad range of unmanned carrier-based aircraft. </p><p>The plan is for a fleet of ships more able to survive a high-intensity conflict, to project US power and presence, and to deliver precision strikes at very long distances, he said.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/15/ships.jpg"/><figcaption>The Nimitz-class Aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) conduct dual aircraft carrier strike group operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. <em>US Navy photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>An example, Esper added, is a new guided missile frigate program, producing ships with &quot;increased lethality, survivability, capability and capacity to conduct distributed warfare.&quot;</p><p>He also said trials were underway on the Sea Hunter, a 132-feet (40 meters) trimaran drone that can autonomously survey the seas for rival submarines for more than two months at a time.</p><p>&quot;These efforts are the next step in realizing our future fleet, one in which unmanned systems perform a variety of warfighting functions, from delivering lethal fire and laying mines, to conducting resupply or surveilling the enemy,&quot; Esper said.</p><p>&quot;This will be a major shift in how we will conduct naval warfare in the years and decades to come.&quot;</p><div><strong>CHINESE NAVY LARGER </strong></div><p>Esper reiterated that China is the top US security threat and that the Indo-Pacific region is the &quot;priority theater&quot; for the US military.</p><p>&quot;Not only is this region important because it is a hub of global trade and commerce, it is also the epicenter of great power competition with China,&quot; he said.</p><p>A Pentagon report on the People&#x27;s Liberation Army released early this month said that Beijing has the world&#x27;s largest naval fleet with 350 ships and submarines.</p><p>Still, Esper stressed, the Chinese navy lags in strength and capability.</p><p>&quot;Even if we stopped building new ships, it would take the PRC years to match our capability on the high seas.&quot;</p><p>Esper said reaching the goal of 355 ships means the navy will have to grab a larger percent of the Pentagon budget, but also that the United States has to put more resources into expanding and modernizing shipyards, where China has a clear advantage. </p><div><strong>sl/pmh/bfm</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>WASHINGTON - Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced Wednesday an ambitious plan to expand the US Navy with a range of unmanned and autonomous ships, submarines and aircraft to confront the growing maritime challenge from China.</p>

WASHINGTON - Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced Wednesday an ambitious plan to expand the US Navy with a range of unmanned and autonomous ships, submarines and aircraft to confront the growing maritime challenge from China.

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Eyeing China, Pentagon plans larger, 'more lethal' navy

Eyeing China, Pentagon plans larger, 'more lethal' navy

Agence France-Presse

Published Sep 17, 2020 06:35 AM PHT

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US Navy

pentagon

mark esper

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Chinese naval forces

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