CNO Delivers Plan to Congress

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen submitted his long-range shipbuilding plan to Congress, designed to grow the fleet to about 313 ships – up from 281 today. The Navy’s 30-year shipbuilding plan is required by law and accompanied the Navy’s FY'07 Budget submission to Congress. It supports the new emphasis on expeditionary and conventional warfighting missions expressed in the QDR. The QDR was submitted to Congress Feb. 3. The plan is also designed to stabilize the Navy’s shipbuilding future for warfighting Sailors and industry partners. Building a fleet for the future is one of Mullen’s top three priorities, which also include sustaining current readiness and developing 21st Century leaders. The plan supports the Navy’s continuing trend toward modernization and a larger force than the one currently deployed around the globe to win the global war on terrorism, respond to humanitarian crises, and deter future competitors in the maritime domain. Highlights of the plan call for a fleet of 11 carriers starting this year, and populating the fleet with 15 Littoral Combat Ships and 113 Surface Combatants by FY'11. The first LCS is scheduled to be christened this fall and commission early in 2007. (Source: Navy News Stand)