The Navy is learning from its combat experiences in the Red Sea and Ukraine to prepare for a potential future conflict with China. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti laid out goals in a new navigation plan to address challenges and improve combat readiness. The Navy also needs to address recruiting struggles to have enough sailors for the next war.
The announcement of these goals comes as U.S. leaders work to defend Taiwan while deterring conflict with China. Lessons from Ukraine’s use of drones and unmanned vessels to control the seas can inform U.S. strategy in the Asia-Pacific region.
Lessons from the Navy’s battle with Houthi rebels in Yemen are also shaping military tactics. Improving development of unmanned systems and integrating new technologies is a key focus. The Navy also recognizes financial constraints and the need to work effectively with other branches of the military.
One challenge is ensuring ships are combat-ready by eliminating maintenance overruns. Franchetti emphasized the importance of timely ship maintenance to maintain a strong Navy.
