MDM NEWS: Amphib Maintenance ‘Vexing’ Hindrance to Fleet Readiness
5/1/2025
By Laura Heckmann
Defense Dept. photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Navy continues to footstomp an 80 percent surge readiness goal for its ships, subs and aircraft, the acting chief of naval operations said maintenance of its amphibious ships is a “vexing” problem as the service lags on its availability goal.
Available surface ships currently sit at 67 percent, said Adm. James Kilby, acting chief of naval operations. “I’m not where I want to be … against the 80 percent target I have.”
Surge-ready means “those ships, aircraft and submarines that are not in the depot availability. I want them ready to go. I want them available to the fleet commanders who respond to the combatant commanders who respond to the president,” he said during the Modern Day Marine Conference May 1.
Kilby said ready platforms has his “full focus,” and while, “yes, I want a bigger Navy — we have been unabashedly unapologetic about that in hearings for as long as I can remember — but I can't build ships at the rate I need them. So, I need to make more of the ships I have available for use. That means they have to come out of their availabilities on time.”
https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2025/5/1/amphib-maintenance-vexing-hindrance-to-fleet-readiness
