In the News

Will the U.S. Navy Build ‘Light’ Aircraft Carriers (Armed with Stealth Fighters)?

  • February 11, 2017
  • Dave Majumdar
  • The National Interest

While a new naval future fleet architecture study from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) suggests that the U.S. Navy should maintain a fleet of 12 full-sized supercarriers, the paper also suggests that the service should develop a new class of light carriers. In the interim, while the new aircraft carriers are being developed, large deck amphibious assault ships could fill the role of the smaller flattops.

In the News

No, Trump Did Not Back Down From China

  • February 11, 2017
  • Harry Kazianis
  • RealClearWorld

Following through with a pledge to rebuild the U.S. military into a fighting force that China would not want to mess with in any possible combat domain. With specific focus on naval, air, and cyber capabilities, Beijing would need to think long and hard about any sort of kinetic conflict with America. In fact, the Trump team should study the recent report published by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments that details in the most comprehensive terms how to restore American seapower — an area of weakness Washington must shore up soon. 

In the News

U.S. Defense Policy Toward China

  • February 10, 2017
  • C-SPAN
  • C-SPAN

Thomas Mahnken delivered remarks on China’s military strength and U.S. defense strategy in Asia-Pacific. Mr. Mahnken previously served as the deputy assistant defense secretary for policy planning in the George W. Bush administration. Other topics addressed included South China Sea military security and the future of U.S.-China relations.

In the News

Pentagon Downplays ‘Close Encounter’ Between US, Chinese Planes Over S. China Sea

  • February 10, 2017
  • Jeff Seldin
  • Voice of America

Dr. Thomas G. Mahnken, president of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, told VOA that while there is an effort by the Chinese to exert control over the South China Sea and treat it like Chinese airspace, it's important to acknowledge that pilots do sometimes make mistakes

In the News

The U.S. Navy Needs a New Fighter (And Russia and China Are to Blame)

  • February 10, 2017
  • Dave Majumdar
  • The National Interest

A new naval future fleet architecture study from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) suggests that the United States Navy will need to develop a dedicated air superiority fighter to counter Russian and Chinese advances.

“Counter-air operations will require low observable manned fighters with an unrefueled combat radius of more than 500 nm,” the CSBA report states. “These characteristics will keep refueling aircraft out of range of enemy air defenses while enabling the fighters to reach and engage bombers in a dynamic environment inside the enemy’s air defense envelope.”

Analysis

A Guide To The Fleet The United States Needs

  • February 10, 2017
  • Bryan Clark and Bryan McGrath
  • War on the Rocks

Since the Cold War, the U.S. Navy has followed a well-worn template to deter aggression and respond to crises in the Middle East and the Western Pacific: a “one size fits all” carrier strike group and amphibious ready group. This approach won’t do the job any longer. China and Russia are violating international law and threatening U.S. allies even as ongoing operations in the Middle East are consuming the service lives of the Navy’s ships and aircraft. In response, the Department of Defense has deployed Navy and Marine forces longer and more frequently, creating what Navy leaders are calling a readiness crisis in the fleet. This is exacerbated by a reduction in the fleet’s size from 318 ships in 2000 to about 275 ships today.

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