Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress

Abstract

This report presents background information and issues for Congress concerning the Navys ship force-structure goals and shipbuilding plans. The planned size of the Navy, the rate of Navy ship procurement, and the prospective affordability of the Navys shipbuilding plans have been matters of concern for the congressional defense committees for the past several years. The apparent end of the post-Cold War era and the transition to a new international security situation featuring renewed great power competition has intensified concerns among some observers regarding the current and future size and capabilities of the Navy.The Navys proposed FY2017 budget requests funding for the procurement of seven new battle force shipstwo Virginia-class attack submarines, two DDG-51 class Aegis destroyers, two Littoral Combat Ships (LCSs), and one LHA-type amphibious assault ship. The Navys proposed FY2017-FY2021 five-year shipbuilding plan includes a total of 38 new ships.Decisions that Congress makes on Navy shipbuilding programs can substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 17, 2016
Accession Number
AD1006618

Entities

People

  • Ronald O'Rourke

Organizations

  • Congressional Research Service

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Carriers
  • Amphibious Ships
  • Attack Submarines
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Boats
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Law
  • Littoral Combat Ships
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
  • Strategic Security Studies