(DailyVantage.com) – The U.S. Navy is falling behind in the building and development of new warships and aircraft carriers, Business Insider reported, citing details of a Navy report it obtained.
According to the news outlet, the Navy conducted a 45-day review of its current capabilities, which revealed that a large chunk of its projects will be delayed from anywhere between one to three years. These projects include the building and development of a guided missile frigate – which would be the first in its class – and a new submarine.
The delays have given rise to concerns among national security observers and experts, who say that a strong fleet has been proven to be an effective deterrent to threats to U.S. security worldwide.
In an op-ed for Fox News, Dr. Rebecca Grant, the vice president of the Lexington Institute, wrote that the delays in the production and deployment of new Navy ships come at a time when their “deterrence value is higher than ever.” She cited the deployment of U.S. ships in the Middle East in the ongoing Israel and Hamas war as an example of how the country’s strong naval presence in the region provided better and stronger security for U.S. forces in the area.
She also wrote that the ships have afforded the U.S. an effective means to keep Iran on its toes. Iran, which U.S. intelligence sources say is a strong supporter of jihadist movements in the Middle East, including Hamas, has been hampered in its efforts to ostensibly create a much more violent escalation of hostilities against Israel and forces of Western countries in the region.
The U.S. also needs a much stronger navy to ward off threats posed by China, whose current shipbuilding capabilities seemingly outpace the U.S.’
Grant blasted President Joe Biden’s administration for significantly reducing the military budget. She pointed out that while Biden’s policy is cutting back, China is continuing to invest heavily in its naval capabilities. This, she warned, could potentially lead to Chinese carriers dominating key strategic areas, effectively ‘locking out’ the U.S. and its allies from the Strait of Malacca to the Sea of Japan.
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