US Navy Struggles Evolving Threats: The Huntington Ingalls port on the Mississippi Gulf Coast has various sounds: clanging metal, hissing steam, sirens, and the work of over 7,000 people. With a $32 billion budget for the Navy, more people are being hired to build cruisers and transport ships. The shipyard’s head, Kari Wilkinson, emphasizes that this work creates jobs and improves efficiency. Some in the Pentagon worry this strategy may be outdated and result in an unaffordable fleet. In Bahrain, things are very different. Naval experts test a new plan with unmanned ships at a U.S. Navy outpost. With a limited budget, these prototypes address threats in the Persian Gulf, like Iran’s fast boats and potential oil ship hijackings.
Michael Brown, former head of Defense Innovation Unit, says the approach has been tested and proven effective for approximately 35,000 hours. “Why aren’t we using this capability quickly?” he asks. The naval tactics difference highlights the Navy’s challenge in balancing tradition and technological advancements, particularly with China’s rising military power. Critics argue that the Navy’s reliance on shipbuilding, which generates numerous jobs, perpetuates an outdated military strategy in an unchanging Congress. Shipbuilding bases like Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker have significant political power. Despite increased shipbuilding investments, funding for crucial repairs and maintenance is reduced.
Critics claim the Navy needs to build an updated fleet for modern challenges. Classic warships are still useful, but we need a diverse fleet with easily movable, inexpensive, and replaceable assets. Unmanned technology companies risk bankruptcy due to being overlooked in favor of traditional marine giants. Navy officials face outdated procurement methods and resistance to change. They acknowledge that change is slow and problematic. Despite the Navy’s use of the term “distributed maritime operations,” which combines traditional and drone fleets, officials acknowledge the cautious approach.
Carlos Del Toro, the Navy Secretary, says the Navy will modernize with new ideas like the Disruptive Capabilities Office. But this change is still occurring slowly. Shipyards like Huntington Ingalls are powerful symbols of industry. They construct $2 billion Arleigh Burke guided-missile cruisers, potent but increasingly susceptible in modern conflicts. When considering a potential war with China over Taiwan, the seriousness of this problem becomes evident. War games by RAND Corporation and other groups reveal that U.S. Navy ships face risks. The Navy could suffer significant casualties in such fights, a rarity since World War II. This raises questions about the Navy’s future skills and ability to change.
The Navy is torn between traditional buying that creates jobs and quick, cheap modernization. The stakes are high as it’s not just about America’s Navy but also its ability to handle a rapidly changing geopolitical world. The U.S. Navy’s surface fleets are often kept from battle zones during war games. Michael Bohnert of RAND Corp. says this fact compels the Navy to consider new plans, such as deploying armed robotic ships near Chinese targets. Despite suggestions, progress could be faster. The consensus in Washington is to stick with standard naval assets instead of adopting cutting-edge technologies.
The Pentagon suggested delaying the purchase of a Huntington Ingalls amphibious transport dock due to increasing costs. Lawmakers, advised by shipbuilder-funded think tanks, opposed delays. Under Senator Roger Wicker, $2 billion was added to the Navy’s budget for an additional warship. Wicker says the problem is not new ideas versus old ones but their combination. Shipbuilders have donated over $90 million to politicians in the past five years. Many helped individuals are key members of budget and military committees, further complicating politics. Former House leaders and a former governor of Mississippi have been brought in to change policy.
ALSO READ: US Military Warns of ISIS Resurgence: Amid Escalating Syrian Civil War
The manufacturing sector knows the cost of traditional shipbuilding. Huntington Ingalls has a $46.9 billion backlog and recently secured a deal for nine additional destroyers until 2027. This will keep many employed. In the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy has robotic ships like the T-38 Devil Ray and the Ocean Aero Triton as part of an experiment. This task force is a small example of the Navy’s adoption of new combat tactics. Boeing, L3Harris, and others faced issues with unmanned projects, while a Bahrain team collaborated with startups to swiftly deploy data-collecting naval assets. However, the Pentagon’s bureaucracy often hinders this forward-thinking approach. Naval leaders need more devices to counter potential enemies like China but overcome systemic inertia in obtaining them.
Despite successful tests in Bahrain, the Navy needs a clear plan for utilizing robotic assets and needs to allocate sufficient funds for their purchase. Contractors need more visionary leaders to meet demand. Saildrone, making up to 400 surveillance vessels annually, struggles due to limited Navy orders. Other companies in the sector tell the same story, revealing a larger issue: the Navy’s hesitance to reallocate funds from legacy projects to new technologies. This highlights a recurring issue: a military organization striving for innovation but hindered by traditionalist ideology and political games.