U.S. Navy fleet uncertainties

Our earlier discussion about the sensibility of addition another SSN to the appropriations this year, and the lack of clear direction on surface fleet plans, seems to have more substantiation in the recent announcement by the Seapower Committee. Their decision to add three, not five, vessels, and the fact that these vessels will be a submarine, amphibious landing ship, and logistics support ship, indicate that the 'jury is still out' on which way to go with USN surface combatants. However, the move to add the LPD and T-AKE are sensible decisions for capability areas where the demand is unlikely to diminish no matter what shape the surface fleet eventually takes on.