The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the Navy’s Surface Fleet
By Defense Opinion |
03/31/2025
By Steven Wills, Defense Opinion Writer.
The U.S. Navy surface warfare enterprise has had several developments to cheer about moving into 2025.
First, the AEGIS combat system works, and it does so under wartime conditions in the Red Sea. The surface forces’ Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) program appears to be a big success and a key element in preparing and sustaining ships in combat conditions.
The DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class destroyer demonstrates that it is perhaps the indispensable surface warship of the age, and a true “jack of all trades” in the tradition of the destroyer platform. Even the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) has seen some rehabilitation with USS Indianapolis playing a role in downing Houthi drones in a Red Sea engagement.
Unfortunately, a number of severe readiness challenges continue to affect the surface fleet, in terms of its vanishing cruiser force, crippling redesign of the Constellation class frigate, poor readiness of the amphibious fleet and problems with the Landing Ship Medium program.
https://www.defensedaily.com/commentary/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-the-navys-surface-fleet/
