Project 33 to beat China by 2027
Project 33: US Navy’s plan to beat China by 2027
AI, robotics and autonomous systems to enhance naval readiness but laggard shipbuilding and kill chain vulnerabilities will endure
AsiaTimes by Gabriel Honrada • September 23, 2024 ~ USNI News
The US Navy is racing to overhaul its force structure and readiness for a potential showdown with China over Taiwan as early as 2027.
USNI reported this month that the US Navy, under Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, has issued new guidance to prepare for a potential conflict with China by 2027.
According to USNI, the “Chief of Naval Operations Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy,” also called the “Project 33” plan, aims to address maintenance backlogs and recruiting challenges and focus on readiness, capability and capacity.
The plan sets two primary goals: enhancing naval readiness and strengthening the US Navy’s role in the broader US joint warfighting ecosystem.
It identifies seven critical areas, including addressing maintenance backlogs, scaling robotic and autonomous systems, improving sailor recruitment and retention, and bolstering infrastructure.
The plan emphasizes multi-domain operations and technological innovation in response to heightened global threats—specifically from China’s expanding military capabilities and Russia’s increasingly aggressive actions.
It seeks to ensure that the US Navy maintains its superiority through readiness, joint force integration and warfighter competency, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and distributed maritime operations.
It underscores the importance of executing these initiatives swiftly to meet future challenges while preparing for sustained, high-end combat.
While the US Navy accelerates its efforts to counter China’s growing naval power, it faces the stark reality of lagging shipbuilding capacity and outdated kill chains that risk exposing critical vulnerabilities in a potential conflict.
Asia Times has previously noted that the US faces critical challenges in naval shipbuilding as it struggles to keep pace with China’s rapid naval expansion. China now has the world’s largest navy, with 370 ships and submarines and over 140 major surface combatants.
China’s 13 naval shipyards have more capacity than all seven naval US shipyards combined, highlighting the US’ growing disadvantage in naval shipbuilding.
Further, US shipyards face skilled labor shortages, exacerbated by past budget cuts and layoffs that have depleted the specialized workforce needed for naval construction.
Moreover, outdated procurement strategies and reliance on high-cost, legacy warships such as aircraft carriers, destroyers and amphibious assault ships further hinder the US’s ability to rapidly scale up its fleet.
Still, the US is itching toward a plan to restore the Navy’s First Fleet in the South China Sea with the Strait of Malacca as its choke point to rebuff China in the Indo-Pacific Region.
For more into another Captivity: see Ezekiel Timeline – 190/40 Years
For more about the South, a prophecy of Esau or Edom, see Obadiah
For more on the enemy from the South, see A Sword from the South!
Joel
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