US Navy fleet too small for 2 conflicts: Chief
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday exposes in congressional testimony the inability of the naval force to handle two simultaneous conflicts.
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US Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday
According to the US Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, the US Navy's fleet is too small to be able to handle more than one conflict.
Gilday told the US Senate Armed Services Committee that "right now the force is not sized to handle two simultaneous conflicts."
According to Gilday, the Navy is presently capable of waging one combat while holding a second opponent at bay.
The Navy would struggle to achieve its operational requirements in the European theater if it were to withhold forces in the Pacific theater to dissuade Chinese activity, according to Gilday.
Read more: Pentagon sees no indication of China intending to attack Taiwan
If the Navy were to fight hostilities in Europe and the Pacific at the same time, US submarines, aircraft carriers, amphibious ships, and destroyers would be in great demand, according to Gilday.
The Navy presently has 298 ships, but Gilday proposed expanding the force to a 500-ship hybrid fleet by 2045. Gilday also urged the US' European allies to spend more on submarines.
