The US Navy warns that new carriers like the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) may not enter the fleet fast enough to maintain an 11-carrier fleet. (Michael Fabey)

Although the US Navy (USN) force of 11 aircraft carriers meets existing operational requirements, studies show a need to add another ship to accommodate future requirements, according to USN officials.

That acknowledgement comes in the wake of earlier USN warnings that the number of carriers could dip below the current 11 carriers in the coming years, while the service's long-term shipbuilding plan notes a possible further reduction in a bit more than two decades.

“Over time, the analysis shows [the navy needs] 12 carriers,” USN Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Michael Gilday told members of the US House Armed Services Committee (HASC) during a hearing on 11 May.

Asked again how many ships would be needed to meet current and future operational requirements, Adm Gilday reiterated, “At least 12.”

He added that the proposed naval fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget proposes 11 carriers till 2039.

The US Navy warns that new carriers like the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) may not enter the fleet fast enough to maintain an 11-carrier fleet. (Michael Fabey)

Although the US Navy (USN) force of 11 aircraft carriers meets existing operational requirements, studies show a need to add another ship to accommodate future requirements, according to USN officials.

That acknowledgement comes in the wake of earlier USN warnings that the number of carriers could dip below the current 11 carriers in the coming years, while the service's long-term shipbuilding plan notes a possible further reduction in a bit more than two decades.

“Over time, the analysis shows [the navy needs] 12 carriers,” USN Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Michael Gilday told members of the US House Armed Services Committee (HASC) during a hearing on 11 May.

Asked again how many ships would be needed to meet current and future operational requirements, Adm Gilday reiterated, “At least 12.”

He added that the proposed naval fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget proposes 11 carriers till 2039.

The US Navy warns that new carriers like the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) may not enter the fleet fast enough to maintain an 11-carrier fleet. (Michael Fabey)

Although the US Navy (USN) force of 11 aircraft carriers meets existing operational requirements, studies show a need to add another ship to accommodate future requirements, according to USN officials.

That acknowledgement comes in the wake of earlier USN warnings that the number of carriers could dip below the current 11 carriers in the coming years, while the service's long-term shipbuilding plan notes a possible further reduction in a bit more than two decades.

“Over time, the analysis shows [the navy needs] 12 carriers,” USN Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Michael Gilday told members of the US House Armed Services Committee (HASC) during a hearing on 11 May.

Asked again how many ships would be needed to meet current and future operational requirements, Adm Gilday reiterated, “At least 12.”

He added that the proposed naval fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget proposes 11 carriers till 2039.

The US Navy warns that new carriers like the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) may not enter the fleet fast enough to maintain an 11-carrier fleet. (Michael Fabey)

Although the US Navy (USN) force of 11 aircraft carriers meets existing operational requirements, studies show a need to add another ship to accommodate future requirements, according to USN officials.

That acknowledgement comes in the wake of earlier USN warnings that the number of carriers could dip below the current 11 carriers in the coming years, while the service's long-term shipbuilding plan notes a possible further reduction in a bit more than two decades.

“Over time, the analysis shows [the navy needs] 12 carriers,” USN Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Michael Gilday told members of the US House Armed Services Committee (HASC) during a hearing on 11 May.

Asked again how many ships would be needed to meet current and future operational requirements, Adm Gilday reiterated, “At least 12.”

He added that the proposed naval fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget proposes 11 carriers till 2039.

The US Navy warns that new carriers like the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) may not enter the fleet fast enough to maintain an 11-carrier fleet. (Michael Fabey)

Although the US Navy (USN) force of 11 aircraft carriers meets existing operational requirements, studies show a need to add another ship to accommodate future requirements, according to USN officials.

That acknowledgement comes in the wake of earlier USN warnings that the number of carriers could dip below the current 11 carriers in the coming years, while the service's long-term shipbuilding plan notes a possible further reduction in a bit more than two decades.

“Over time, the analysis shows [the navy needs] 12 carriers,” USN Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Michael Gilday told members of the US House Armed Services Committee (HASC) during a hearing on 11 May.

Asked again how many ships would be needed to meet current and future operational requirements, Adm Gilday reiterated, “At least 12.”

He added that the proposed naval fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget proposes 11 carriers till 2039.

The US Navy warns that new carriers like the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) may not enter the fleet fast enough to maintain an 11-carrier fleet. (Michael Fabey)

Although the US Navy (USN) force of 11 aircraft carriers meets existing operational requirements, studies show a need to add another ship to accommodate future requirements, according to USN officials.

That acknowledgement comes in the wake of earlier USN warnings that the number of carriers could dip below the current 11 carriers in the coming years, while the service's long-term shipbuilding plan notes a possible further reduction in a bit more than two decades.

“Over time, the analysis shows [the navy needs] 12 carriers,” USN Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Michael Gilday told members of the US House Armed Services Committee (HASC) during a hearing on 11 May.

Asked again how many ships would be needed to meet current and future operational requirements, Adm Gilday reiterated, “At least 12.”

He added that the proposed naval fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget proposes 11 carriers till 2039.