The US Needs More Warships. Why Not Build Them Abroad?

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): ‘We need a bigger Navy’ — Fleet Forces commander talks ‘Golden Fleet,’ shipbuilding. We should be able to build some ships at friendly overseas shipyards.

Stupid move by lawmakers. Trump administration’s recent push to buy foreign-built warships is being waylaid by congressional defense committees seeking to limit executive office’s ability to tap overseas construction yards to build out our naval fleet.

Under the language of the markup, the defense secretary may arrange to “construct not more than two vessels for each class of covered vessels in a[n] [allied] foreign shipyard.”

“Covered vessels” listed within the bill’s language include only bulk fuel vessels and roll-on/roll-off ships.

Stipulations for such ships include the defense secretary determining — with evidence — that such a construction “is in the national security interests of the United States.”

Pentagon must submit “a description of the enforceable provisions that will govern the protection of classified information and controlled unclassified information” during the foreign construction process.

Additional requirements include “all critical mission systems, command and control equipment, and secure communications systems are installed in the United States or a secure allied facility; the vessels are projected to be constructed and delivered faster than if the vessels were constructed at a shipyard in the United States, or construction at a foreign shipyard otherwise provides a material benefit to readiness or force posture.”

Facing issues in supply lines with an enemy as sophisticated as Iran, the Military Sealift Command is fast learning lessons in contested logistics.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s the latest defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

Why human intelligence matters more in AI world. An impending casualty of AI, we are told, is the human spy. Conventional wisdom says in our AI future, there’s little need to recruit agents, plan secret rendezvous, or conduct dead drops — the old-school tradecraft of espionage.

AI is compressing parts of intelligence cycle, but modernization is occurring unevenly across collection, analysis, validation, dissemination, and policymaker integration. The resulting friction — not the technology itself — creates the defining opportunity for IC leaders.

While every inch of land on earth is mapped, sea floor remains mystery in many places, Terradepth wants to shed some light on deep seas with autonomous undersea mapping.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Senate’s support for flat 3.6% military pay raise could complicate White House’s effort to implement tiered pay increases in fiscal 2027.

Congress seeking to limit authority of Navy Secretary when it comes to changing names of U.S. Navy vessels.

With key members of Congress wavering on $350 billion defense reconciliation bill, Pentagon likely drawing up budget backup plans — but such plans would face hard choices between high-end weapons and low-cost drones and other programs.

US POWER OVERSEAS

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command will be dropping “Indo” from its name and reverting back to the long-used U.S. Pacific Command, or USPACOM.

Army’s ‘Tropic Lightning’ Division ponders transformation lessons from Philippine war games. Army’s 25th Infantry Division (25th ID) has undergone metamorphosis in past few years, but its commanding general, explained even more transformation is coming.

CHINA THREAT

Japan’s defense chief challenges China’s military spending figures in fresh sign that Tokyo is taking tougher line in response to Beijing’s claims that its regional rival is pursuing “new militarism.”

IRAN WAR/DEAL

14-point Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between U.S. and Iran includes 60-day ceasefire and reopening of Strait of Hormuz. It also paves way for sanctions relief and $300 billion reconstruction incentive for the Islamic Republic — contingent upon final deal being agreed.

Three Iranian tankers loaded with crude oil have passed the U.S. blockade line in Gulf of Oman, ship-tracking data shows.

Oil prices continue to slide after U.S. and Iran signed interim deal to end hostilities and negotiate lasting peace.

Preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement likely won’t stop cyber operations launched by Tehran and Iran-aligned hacking groups at U.S. systems.

RUSSIA THREAT/UKRAINE WAR

G7 leaders welcomed growing unity in efforts to increase pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine, amid signs Trump is taking tougher line on Moscow.

Concerned with Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, Senate Armed Services Committee is demanding to know if Pentagon can increase deliveries of Patriot air defense system interceptors to the nation. This, as U.S. and allied increase demand on dwindling supplies of these weapons.

UK expects Russia to retaliate for seizure of shadow fleet oil tanker. No formal warning has been issued to captains or ship owners, but industry body says they are exercising greater vigilance.

EUROPEAN DEFENSE

California defense technology firm Shield AI has offered Poland role in its X-BAT autonomous vertical-takeoff fighter jet program, with country potentially hosting some of manufacturing activities for the aircraft.

KNDS, the French German maker of Leopard tank and Caesar truck-mounted gun, pitched new howitzer with barrel longer than any NATO production artillery, which gives t weapon range of up to 37 miles with standard high-explosive shells.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Spurred by chaos in Strait of Hormuz, Thailand to build $30 billion land corridor to offer faster, cheaper route for goods travelling through congested Strait of Malacca.

US MILITARY

General Motors and Lockheed Martin have agreed to explore ways to accelerate production of U.S. military arms and equipment.

Pentagon quietly launched yearlong strategy to unify military services’ approach to boosting human performance and reaching “Total Force Fitness,” emphasizing data-driven approach to achieving results.

Pentagon can’t fully track whether suicide prevention training is helping. “There is no single entity that has complete picture of suicide prevention training completion across the department.”

Air Force now requires chaplains to wear rank insignia and allows pregnant airmen to sport maternity wrap dress.

Air Force has selected both General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril Industries to build its first fleet of semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft, based on their YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A drones, respectively.

END of PDB

FOR MORE DETAILED, UNCENSORED, INTELLIGENCE, AND ANALYSIS FROM PAUL CRESPO, SUBSCRIBE TO HIS SUBSTACK.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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