"The U.S. Navy Has An Aircraft Carrier Problem" Topic

"The U.S. Navy is currently undertaking a significant review of its future aircraft carrier force, with particular focus on the next-generation Ford-class carriers. This review has sparked widespread debate over whether the Navy will continue building these ships as planned, modify their design, or shift to a different type of carrier altogether. While no final decision has been made, the review reflects broader concerns about cost, technology, and the future of naval warfare.

At the center of the discussion is the Gerald R. Ford–class aircraft carrier, the Navy's most advanced and expensive warship program.

Designed to replace the older Nimitz-class carriers on a one-for-one basis, the Ford class incorporates numerous innovations, including electromagnetic aircraft launch systems (EMALS), advanced arresting gear, improved nuclear reactors, and automation that reduces crew size…"

link

Armand

Some of its authors articles sound like they are from the Daily Mail.

U.S. Considering Foreign Designs, Shipyards for New Navy Frigate, Destroyer Work in $1.85 USDB Study

"U.S. Considering Foreign Designs, Shipyards for New Navy Frigate, Destroyer Work in $1.85 USDB Study
SAM LAGRONE AND MALLORY SHELBOURNE
APRIL 24, 2026 6:02 PM – UPDATED: APRIL 24, 2026 7:07 PM

Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launches Mogami-class guided-missile frigate on order for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) on Nov. 14, 2023. JMSDF Photo
American officials are considering foreign designs and having U.S. warship components built in overseas yards as part of an expansive manufacturing study proposed in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, USNI News has learned.

To expand naval shipbuilding capacity for U.S. warships, the FY 2027 budget submission includes $1.85 USD billion in research and development funding for a pair of studies on building future foreign frigate and destroyer designs, according to budget documents reviewed by USNI News.

The funds "will be used to investigate a full spectrum of procurement options to attract more shipbuilding capacity into domestic shipyards and bring additional ships into the fleet – including studies of the ability of allied shipbuilding companies to build ships or components," reads the budget language. "This funding will be split into two separate study and procurement efforts targeting the fleet's future [cruiser/destroyer] and frigate inventories."

The study request, which is part of proposed reconciliation funding in addition to the Pentagon base budget, comes as the White House Office of Management and Budget pressures domestic shipyards to deliver surface ships and submarines faster.

"To be clear, we need more ships, and we need them right now," OMB director Russ Vought said Wednesday during a keynote at the Navy League's annual Sea-Air-Space symposium. "If we cannot get the ships we need from traditional sources at cost and on time, we will get them from other shipyards."…"

link

Armand

Good thing we still have so many great allies to help us. Nearly 2 billion for a study. Must include battleships and inside trading info. I propose that there be a study to look at this study. I am free all afternoon, and will work for Diet Coke and Mentos.

There are many puzzling things about this FF(X) program.

Firstly, why give it to the shipyard that has just announced a delay to two Amphibious Assault carriers due to lack of qualified labor?

Secondly the ship seems a little underarmed. It has a 21 cell RAM launcher for close in air defense. It then has 16 NSM cells. No VLS, No CIWS Crew 146

The Constellation class, which seems a little cheaper, had the exact same weapons plus a 32 cell MK41 VLS system. A far more balanced weapon package for a modern frigate. I would argue that most of the problems the the Constellation class could have been avoid by using the off the shelf FREMM design.

The Type 26 has 12 cells for 48 CAMM anti air missiles, plus a 24 cell MK41 VLS and 2 CIWS. All this at a lower cost. Crew 157
Depending on missiles for mission I believe the Mk41 can be quad packed for missiles like the ESSM.

I get the need to have smaller platforms. However, the true limiting factor is crew availability. The strike power per crew member seems remarkably low.
Hopefully we won't see phrases such as modular design allows easy upgrades as we all know what happened with the LCS. I am shocked not to see a 24 or 32 cell Mk41 VLS on the proposed design in addition to the proposed weapon package -maybe the cost of moving the frigate requirement onto a cutter chassis rather than using the FREMM chassis.

Yes, I think this is a small minority of individuals that think this is a good idea. E.g. BBs were eventually mothballed. As it was felt they were too vulnerable airstrikes, TLAMs could be carried by smaller platforms[DDGs], etc.

However, ADA systems are much, much better today, AI/EW, etc. than ever before. But as always, it always comes to concerns about $, "No bucks, No Buck Rogers" …

Plus as we see more and more systems aboard ships, aircraft, etc. with AI, etc. less crewmen are needed …

Thanks for the comments… it's a breath of fresh air to read about military or historical topics again and escape the murky labyrinth of local politics and the squabbles over who performed better or worse in government… thanks again…

Armand

The Marines may need 40 amphibious warfare ships, general says

"The Marines will probably need at least eight more amphibious warfare ships to meet their goal of roughly 40 in order to keep three Marine Expeditionary Units deployed at the same time.

An ongoing analysis has not yet determined exactly how many such ships the Marines need, but the number is "probably going to be around 40," said Marine Lt. Gen. Jay Bargeron, deputy commandant for plans, policies, and operations. "It could be a little more."

Bargeron discussed the ship needs on Wednesday at the Modern Day Marine exhibition in Washington, D.C.

Marine Expeditionary Units, or MEUs, are typically embarked on Amphibious Ready Groups, which consist of three ships: Big deck amphibious assault ships, which carry Marines and vertical-take off aircraft like the MV-22 Osprey, helicopters and F-35 fighters; amphibious transport dock ships, such as the USS John P. Murtha, which recently recovered the Artemis II astronauts; and dock landing ships…"

link

US Navy releases list of ships it plans to inactivate this year

"The U.S. Navy named 14 ships it intends to remove from the fleet during the current fiscal year, according to a Navy administrative message released Sunday.

The service released an inactivation schedule for fiscal 2026 that will see vessels either recycled, dismantled, deemed logistics support assets or transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration, a government agency that oversees the disposal of naval vessels…"

link

Armand