U.S. Navy plans big fleet expansion

With U.S. President-elect Donald Trump demanding more ships, the Navy is proposing the biggest fleet expansion since the end of the Cold War to meet threats from a resurgent Russia and sabre-rattling China

U.S. NAVY SHIP REQUIREMENT
2014   2016  = 2 ships

11 Aircraft carriers 12

88 Large surface combatants 104
(cruisers, destroyers)

52 Small surface combatants 52
(littoral combat ships, frigates)
 
34 Amphibious warfare ships 38

12 Ballistic missile submarines 12
(nuclear-armed)

48 Attack submarines 66

63 Support ships 71

308 Total requirement 355

Current ships (Jan 9, 2017) 274

$16bn
Up to $5.5bn
U.S. Navy average annual spending on shipbuilding
Extra annualspending for 355-ship navy (over 30 years)

Sources: U.S. Navy, Congressional Research Service
Picture: U.S. Navy