No Shipbuilding Plan, But Navy Works On New Ships To Counter China

The Navy is looking into smaller ships that can support the USMC's concept of a lighter, faster force. The next generation frigate is already being built. The Navy has two new ideas. A new class of medium logistics ship, and an unmanned anti-mine vessel.

The Navy might not yet have an overarching plan to design and build its fleet of the future, but it is taking small steps that provide clues as to where service leadership wants to go.

Over the past week, the Navy announced two industry days to meet with prospective shipbuilders for a new class of logistics ship that can operate under fire, and an unmanned anti-mine vessel, both new programs that would allow the Navy and Marine Corps to push deeper into contested territory in the Pacific, and keep troops and sailors resupplied once they get there.


The Next Generation Medium Logistics Ship is the bigger effort, representing an entirely new class of manned ship designed to operate in a crowded environment while supplying ships at sea and a new, lighter, Marine force on the ground that is currently being designed by Commandant Gen. David Berger.