| LESSON 6 TRANSFORMATION
OF THE NAVAL FORCES
Speaker: Dr. Stuart Johnson
Introduction
The U.S. Navy today enjoys supremacy of the ocean commons, has been
re-orienting itself for power-projection operations ashore, and
is embracing the information era through network centric warfare.
Although it has played an important role in regional conflicts of
the past decade and its contribution to the wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq have contributed success there, it faces a challenging
agenda in carrying out its own modernization and transformation.
One challenge facing the Navy will be keeping an adequately large
inventory of ships as existing models age into obsolescence. Its
shipbuilding program is focused on very high unit cost ships and
the service cannot afford to buy enough to replace those retired.
Another challenge will be carrying out the expensive modernization
of its carrier aircraft; a large number of F/A-18 E/Fs and Joint
Strike Fighters (JSF) will need to be procured. A third challenge
will be acquiring new capabilities in C4ISR and defensive systems
for defeating anti-access/area-denial threats to littoral operation.
A fourth challenge will be deciding whether, and in what ways, to
pursue a strategic change in direction by acquiring significant
numbers of lower cost ships networked together new unmanned platforms.
Objectives
- Analyze the modernization and recapitalization agenda of the
Navy, the potential payoffs, and high budget costs.
- Analyze the technologies, operational concepts, organizational
structures, training, and doctrine necessary for transformation
of the Navy.
- Analyze the role of the Navy in U.S. defense strategy, in future
missions and operations, and ability to integrate with the Army
and Marine Corps.
- Examine potential impediments to achieving transformation of
the Navy, including cultural, technological, programmatic, and
budgetary constraints.
- Analyze the future naval procurement plan in relation to the
future budgets likely to be available. Discuss options for scaling
back procurement plans should this become necessary.
Issues for Discussion
- What kind of naval forces will be needed to meet future U.S.
strategic and defense requirements?
- How serious is anti-access/area-denial threat to the Navy’s
survivability, especially in littoral operations? What new capabilities
will be needed for the Navy to participate in joint strike forces
and stand-off targeting operations?
- What organizational structures, doctrine, and training are
required for transformation of naval and air forces? What new
technologies promise to contribute heavily to the Navy’s
future?
- What is the appropriate balance between modernization/recapitalization
of legacy systems and transformation? How can the Navy best allocate
available funds for acquisition of smaller ships, C4ISR systems,
sensors, information networks, and smart munitions?
- What constraints exist for transforming the Navy? How serious
are they?
- What alternatives are available to the present shipbuilding
program and fleet architecture?
Required Reading
Cebrowski, Arthur K. and Stuart Johnson, "Alternative
Fleet Architecture Design," Defense & Technology
Paper. NDU-CTNSP, August 2005. Chapters 1, 2, 5-7
Clark, ADM Vernon,
“Projecting Decisive Joint Capabilities,” Sea Power
21 Series Part I, Proceedings, USNI Read ADM Clarke’s
piece, skim other parts of series.
Supplemental Reading
Daniel, Donald C.F.
“The Future of American Naval Power: Propositions and Recommendations.”
Globalization and Maritime Power. ed. Sam J. Tangredi.
National Defense University Press. 2003. pp. 503-516.
Dombrowski. Peter J. and Andrew L. Ross. “Transforming
the Navy: Punching a Featherbed?” Naval War College
Review. Summer 2003.
Barber III, Arthur H. and Delwyn L. Gilmore. “Maritime
Access: Do Defenders Hold All the Cards.” Defense
Horizons. National Defense University Press. October 2001.
Naval
Transformation Roadmap, 2003
|
|
