PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – Even if he can, it won’t be quick. As Navy leaders call for 381-ship fleet, Trump signs shipbuilding order aimed at revitalizing a US shipbuilding industry that has fallen well behind production levels of China.
The effort to build up the fleet to those numbers will take 30 years and will require investing at least $40 billion each year over the duration.
An estimated 250,000 skilled or well-compensated workers must be hired over the next decade to accomplish shipbuilding and vessel maintenance goals.
“Simply put, we need more ships delivered on time and on budget, and we are challenged in both of these arenas,” says the acting assistant secretary of the Navy.
There are currently fewer than 300 battle force ships in the fleet — and that number is expected to drop. Current projections indicate the Navy will retire close to a dozen more ships through 2027 than it expects to commission.
Maybe this guy can help – ‘Honey badger’ admiral, who has demanded accountability from America’s ailing shipbuilding industry, emerges as top contender for Navy chief.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories ending the week from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:
NATIONAL SECURITY
From bureaucracy to battle: Increase direct funding to combatant commanders. While it may be appealing and appropriate to aim for big-ticket program cancellations or giant policy shifts, there are smaller changes that can be made quickly to increase warfighter capabilities at the edge.
HOMELAND SECURITY
A federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily blocked Trump from ending Biden-era program that allowed parole for over half a million immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. (RELATED: Legal Showdown Ahead! Obama-Backed Judge Deals Crucial Blow To Trump’s Power)
US deploys military plane to transport 10 alleged gang members to El Salvador.
POLITICS
Removed Confederate monuments in Maryland to remain hidden, despite Trump executive order.
Will South Africa’s special envoy to the US’ previous comments about Donald Trump being ‘racist, homophobic’ come back to haunt him? (RELATED: Fake News Reaches New Low In Deranged Attack On Trump Supporters)
US POWER OVERSEAS
CHINA THREAT
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Why Ukraine wants Germany’s Taurus missiles.
Trump derides Ukraine’s request to buy $15 billion worth of Patriot air defense systems.
A new Russian offensive to gain territory in Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions has yet to capture much territory. Despite amassing tens of thousands of troops on the border, Moscow doesn’t have the resources to get very far.
Russian military aircraft were tracked operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on Monday. No threat according to NORAD.
IRAN THREAT/MIDEAST
Israel says it will expand its offensive across most of Gaza.
Iran is expected to resist a US proposal to transfer its stockpile of highly enriched, nearly weapon’s grade uranium to a third country – such as Russia – as part of Washington’s effort to scale back Tehran’s nuclear program.
SPACE THREAT
“Quick reaction” launches. Space Force is exploring options to use its new Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve to facilitate on-demand launches for getting much needed capabilities into orbit quickly.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
13 million displaced as Sudan war enters third year: UN.
Hungary passes constitutional amendment to ban LGBTQ+ public events.
US MILITARY
Mysterious weapon fired from an M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle’s BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missile launcher earlier this year was a Raytheon Coyote LE SR drone. It can be used for surveillance, electronic warfare and signal relay and as a kamikaze drone.
END of PDB
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
READ NEXT: Prominent US Enemy Leader Killed
Buy, rent lease ships from our backstabbing allies in the short term, of the USA still has any!
And how do we pay for this expanded fleet? The same way we’ve been funding our welfare programs for many decades. We sell T-Bills to China while allowing them to rob us blind in trade.