Shipbuilding Plan Features a Bigger Fleet
Endorsed by the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Navy, the plan supports the Navy’s continuing trend toward modernization and a larger force than the one currently deployed around the globe to win the global war on terrorism, respond to humanitarian crises, and deter future competitors in the maritime domain.
Highlights of the plan call for a fleet of 11 carriers starting this year, and populating the fleet with 15 Littoral Combat Ships and 113 Surface Combatants by FY'11. The first LCS is scheduled to be christened this fall and commission early in 2007. “I have got to invest the resources, stabilize the plan, and in my expectations for industry, establish it,” Mullen said. “[We must] support a strategic partnership between the Hill, industry and ourselves.”
Mullen also responded to questions regarding the Navy’s increasing role in Iraq and new missions, including taking command of Joint Task Force Horn Of Africa (JTF-HOA), assuming responsibility for detainee operations at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the establishment of the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command with it’s related missions, increased demand for Special Operations Forces, and the creation of a Foreign Area Officer community. “Basically you take skill sets that we have to assist, take the talent that we have to assist in what’s going on over there, and to look at it really from as joint a perspective as we can,” Mullen said about the Navy’s expanding roles and missions. “It’s very clear that the ground forces have been in a very tough rotation over the last several years, and if we can pitch in and help relieve some of that we’re going to.”
By Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs