Esper Unveils New Details for Bigger Navy, Plans Major Shipbuilding Investment

Defense Secretary Mark Esper today said he has laid out a "credible path" for a new Navy of more than 500 manned and unmanned ships to deter China in the future, necessitating significant new investments in shipbuilding from funds "harvested" elsewhere in the Pentagon. Esper, who spoke at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, said "Battle Force 2045" would position the Navy to grow to more than 355 traditional combat force ships by 2035, officially punting a key campaign...