Review: Pacific Needs More Navy Presence

The Pentagon, in its strategic Quadrennial Defense Review, supports an increased Navy presence in the Pacific but gave few details on how this vision might take shape. The Pentagon has indicated that the decision would not be made until after release and evaluation of the Quadrennial Defense Review. Guam and Hawaii are being considered as possible locations for Navy carriers. It’s been reported that the estimated cost of basing an aircraft carrier on Guam is $5 billion, compared to $2.2 billion for Hawaii. The Pentagon report offers no details about carrier basing, noting only that the Navy plans to have at least six operationally available and sustainable carriers in the region. The Navy currently bases five aircraft carriers in the Pacific: two in San Diego, two in Washington state and one in Japan. The Quadrennial Defense Review also says that 60 percent of U.S. submarines will operate in the Pacific, but it does not outline how that balance will be achieved. (Source: Stars and Stripes)