US Navy seeks life extension to meet 355-ship fleet
Although one step in a lengthy process, the US Navy set out its efforts on 12 February to recapitalise its fleet and significantly increase the number of hulls in its inventory.
Releasing its ‘Long-Range Plan’ for naval vessel construction from FY19, the document calls for an increase in key shipbuilding programmes.
According to the report the average ship construction budget up to FY23 is $19.7 billion per year, which would have to increase to $25 billion per year beyond then ‘to sustain the baselines stable acquisition profiles’.
Key themes identified in the National Defense Strategy formed the ‘overarching guidance’ for
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