US Navy’s fleet woes means it’s ‘not ready to meet threat from China’: analyst

Name: China’s most advanced amphibious assault ship likely to be deployed in disputed South China Sea
Uploaded: 2021-05-24T13:13:36.000Z
Duration: 1 min 50 s
Description: China’s most advanced amphibious assault ship likely to be deployed in disputed South China Sea

The US Navy’s troubles, from propulsion failures to rusty ships, come amid issues such as the South China Sea tensions and an emboldened Russian navy

A navy official says it’s now on a ‘positive trajectory’ but it will have to rebuild confidence under congressional scrutiny as it prepares a new strategic plan

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The Michael Monsoor, a Zumwalt-class destroyer. Photo: LA Times/TNS

Associated Press

Published: 9:13pm, 24 May 2021Updated: 9:21pm, 24 May 2021

The US Navy’s speedy littoral combat ships had propulsion failures. The gun on its stealthy destroyer is a dud because of expensive ammo. Its newest aircraft carrier had problems with the system that launches aircraft.

On top of that, embarrassing photos of rusty ships online have underscored delays in maintaining warships, made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.

The US Navy’s troubles have caused delays and cost billions of dollars. They come as tensions are growing in the South China Sea, Russia’s navy is emboldened, Iranian speedboats are harassing vessels in the Persian Gulf.

“Are we ready to meet the threat from China? No,” said Loren Thompson, a defence analyst at the Lexington Institute.

Admiral Mike Gilday, chief of naval operations, insists the US Navy is now on a “positive trajectory” but it will have to rebuild confidence under congressional scrutiny as it prepares a new strategic plan that will include another long-term investment: unmanned vehicles.

The Biden administration is readying a US Navy budget proposal this week to send to lawmakers.

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China’s most advanced amphibious assault ship likely to be deployed in disputed South China Sea

The US Navy fleet currently falls shy of 300 ships, despite a stated goal of 355 ships. The Chinese fleet now outnumbers the US Navy.