Industrial Assessment Directorate: Impact of the Navy’s 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan on US Industrial Base

Abstract

This research aims to thoroughly examine and define critical assumptions within the Defense, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and Education, Personnel, and Facilities (DOTMLPF) framework, focusing on the intricate relationships among ship maintenance, force structure, and industrial capacity. The overarching goal is to establish an optimized array of viable options, considering factors such as talent availability, the utilization of smaller industrial plants, and overall costs within the shipbuilding industrial base. The primary focus is on determining an optimal force structure, particularly in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s area of responsibility (AOR), aligning with the directives outlined in the Chief of Naval Operation’s Guidance. The study acknowledges the need for a 500-ship, multitiered Navy to effectively meet the challenges posed by peer nation advances, especially in the context of distributed maritime operations. Recognizing the inherent limitations of the current Navy for distributed maritime operations, this research explores strategic options for integrating smaller ships and autonomous surface and subsurface vessels into the shipbuilding industrial base. The analysis is conducted within the framework of a proposed five-tiered fleet structure, encompassing large combatants, aircraft carriers (CVs), guided-missile destroyers (DDGs), submarine forces, L-class ships, and smaller lightly manned/unmanned surfaced vessels. The research anticipates that decisions pertaining to force structure will have profound implications on talent management, the efficient use of industrial plants, and overall operational costs within the shipbuilding domain. In conclusion, this research endeavors to contribute insights into optimizing force structure within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s AOR, with a specific emphasis on the shipbuilding industrial base. By addressing the intricate interplay between ship maintenance, force structure, and industrial capacity, the study aims to inform strategic decision-making, aligning force structure with the evolving landscape of naval warfare and ensuring the continued strength and resilience of the shipbuilding industrial base.