People’s Daily republished a PLA Daily analysis examining the U.S. Navy’s newly released shipbuilding plan, which envisions a future fleet of 450 manned and unmanned vessels designed to support a more distributed and resilient maritime force. The article argues that the plan faces significant challenges due to the decline of the U.S. shipbuilding industry, delays in new vessel construction, and the accelerated retirement of aging ships.
According to the analysis, U.S. shipyards continue to struggle with schedule delays, cost overruns, workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions, and aging industrial infrastructure. It cites the Congressional Budget Office’s assessment that U.S. naval shipbuilding is at its lowest level in nearly 25 years. For example, the USS “Doris Miller,” the next Ford-class aircraft carrier under construction, may not enter service until 2034.
The analysis further argues that the retirement of older vessels is outpacing the delivery of new ones. The U.S. Navy has expanded its FY2026 decommissioning plan to include 14 ships, including nuclear-powered submarines, cruisers, littoral combat ships, amphibious vessels, and support ships. To offset declining fleet numbers, several aging platforms—including the USS “Nimitz,” which entered service in 1975—have had their service lives extended beyond their originally planned retirement dates.
The article concludes that the U.S. Navy’s fleet expansion challenges stem from structural weaknesses, including insufficient industrial capacity, outdated procurement practices, and deficiencies in program planning and risk management. It argues that these factors could significantly undermine the implementation of the Navy’s shipbuilding strategy and broader modernization objectives.
Source: People’s Daily, June 17, 2026
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0617/c1011-40742073.html