Wargames underscore value of hedge or tailored forces touted by CNO
Littoral combat ships, like the one shown here, would be featured in US Navy tailored forces. (Janes/Michael Fabey)
Recent wargames conducted by the Hudson Institute showcased the abilities of “hedged” or tailored forces for the US Navy (USN) that have been promoted by Admiral Daryl Caudle, chief of Naval Operations (CNO).
The Hudson Institute conducted a series of wargames from 2024 to 2026 to develop hedge forces for operational problems associated with the navy's most challenging scenarios, the institute noted in its report Hudson Institute Righting the Ship Building a Relevant US Navy Fleet for Twenty-First-Century Deterrence and Combat, released on 3 November.
The wargames were set in 2035–40 and assumed a scenario in which China was blockading Taiwan, and Russia was exploiting the opportunity to threaten US and European NATO allies, according to the report. The wargames also included conflict with Iranian forces in a Red Sea region scenario.
Participants in the wargame included active-duty US and allied military personnel, government officials, and industry experts, the report noted.
The CNO had introduced and touted his concept of tailored or “hedge” forces in the beginning of 2026.
“For decades, our normal force-generation model has been centred around strike groups,” Adm Caudle said on 26 October during a question-and-answer period of the Navy Memorial's SITREP Speakers Series session, the USN noted in a statement about the CNO's comments.
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