{"id":92452,"date":"2026-02-17T15:22:47","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T18:22:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shipping.einnews.com\/article\/893110505"},"modified":"2026-02-17T15:22:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T18:22:47","slug":"reader-poll-two-thirds-oppose-us-navy-shipbuilding-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/17\/reader-poll-two-thirds-oppose-us-navy-shipbuilding-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Reader Poll: Two-thirds oppose US Navy shipbuilding strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"article-image\">\n<figure class=\"article-image__container\">    <img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2522523401-430x241.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2522523401-430x241.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2522523401-430x241.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2522523401-430x241.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2522523401-430x241.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2522523401-430x241.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2522523401-430x241.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2522523401-430x241.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2522523401-430x241.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2522523401-430x241.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2522523401-430x241.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2522523401-430x241.jpg?ssl=1\" alt><figcaption class=\"c-featured-image__description\">Operations at the Bath Iron Works, which builds destroyers for the US Navy. Credit: Kate Scott\/Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The US is trying to find ways to counter a growing numerical disparity with its peer competitor in China<\/li>\n<li>The return of President Donald Trump has seen complex programmes cancelled in favour of simpler alternatives<\/li>\n<li>The launch of a Maritime Action Plan is intended to provide a viable naval reserve and sealift force<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"drop-cap\">A poll of readers of the <em>Naval<\/em> <em>Technology<\/em> news site has found that more than two-thirds consider that United States President Donald Trump\u2019s shipbuilding strategy is not the right course of direction for the US Navy.<\/p>\n<p> <!-- sponsored-whitepaper sponsored hidden sponsored-with-form --> <\/p>\n<p>The poll, conducted by intelligence firm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globaldata.com\/industries\/aerospace-defense-and-security\/\" target=\"_blank\">GlobalData<\/a>, offered answers broken down into two positive and two negative options: No, it is not the right schedule or direction for industry; No, and the primary focus should be on uncrewed systems; Yes; and Yes, concentrated large firepower in a small number of platforms is the right approach.<\/p>\n<p>Of more than 250 respondents, 67% (171) answered in the negative, indicating that the current US strategy to naval shipbuilding was not the right approach.<\/p>\n<p>From those that answered with a \u2018no\u2019, 131 said the US approach was \u201cnot the right schedule or direction for industry\u201d, while 40 said the primary focus should be on the development of uncrewed systems.<\/p>\n<p>Of the 83 positive results, 30 said that the current US approach should concentrate firepower in a small number of platforms, while 53 offered the basic \u2018Yes\u2019 response.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/mA78S-survey-of-254-respondents-one-result-per-respondent--932x1024.png?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/mA78S-survey-of-254-respondents-one-result-per-respondent--932x1024.png?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/mA78S-survey-of-254-respondents-one-result-per-respondent--932x1024.png?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/mA78S-survey-of-254-respondents-one-result-per-respondent--932x1024.png?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/mA78S-survey-of-254-respondents-one-result-per-respondent--932x1024.png?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/mA78S-survey-of-254-respondents-one-result-per-respondent--932x1024.png?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/mA78S-survey-of-254-respondents-one-result-per-respondent--932x1024.png?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/mA78S-survey-of-254-respondents-one-result-per-respondent--932x1024.png?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/mA78S-survey-of-254-respondents-one-result-per-respondent--932x1024.png?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/mA78S-survey-of-254-respondents-one-result-per-respondent--932x1024.png?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/mA78S-survey-of-254-respondents-one-result-per-respondent--932x1024.png?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" width=\"932\" height=\"1024\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.naval-technology.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/02\/mA78S-survey-of-254-respondents-one-result-per-respondent--932x1024.png?ssl=1\" alt class=\"wp-image-117550\"><\/figure>\n<p>In February this year, the White House published a new strategy dubbed \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Restoring-Americas-Maritime-Dominance.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">America\u2019s Maritime Action Plan<\/a>\u2019, which detailed the state of the country\u2019s shipbuilding sector.<\/p>\n<p>According to the paper, of 66 shipyards, just eight were described as being \u201cactive shipbuilding yards\u201d, with 11 able to provide \u201cbuild positions\u201d, 22 repair yards with drydocking, and 25 topside repair yards.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, the US \u201cdoes not have the capacity necessary to scale up the domestic shipbuilding industry to the rate required to meet national priorities\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Among plans in the proposed Maritime Action Plan, which included aspirations for commercial shipbuilding, a Presidential Order directed the Department of Defense to conduct a review and issue guidance on the mobilisation of a \u201crobust inactive reservice fleet\u201d in order to ensure \u201cwe have adequate assured access to sealift capacity whenever needed for military operations\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-us-struggling-to-keep-pace-with-china\">US struggling to keep pace with China<\/h2>\n<p>The US Navy is struggling to keep track of its nearest peer competitor, China, whose People\u2019s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is threatening to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naval-technology.com\/features\/how-is-china-able-to-produce-so-many-submarines\/\" target=\"_blank\">bridge the qualitative gap<\/a>, just as it surpassed the US\u2019 quantitative advantage some years ago.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, the return to the White House of President Donald Trump has seen key programmes such as the <em>Constellation<\/em>-class frigate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naval-technology.com\/news\/what-can-we-learn-from-the-collapse-of-the-constellation-frigate\/\" target=\"_blank\">cancelled<\/a> in favour of a less sophisticated, but eminently more achievable, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naval-technology.com\/news\/us-navy-ffx-vs-constellation-frigate-a-comparison\/\" target=\"_blank\">FF(X) platform<\/a> based on the Coast Guard\u2019s Legend-class cutters.<\/p>\n<p>However, while simplicity appeared to win the day in axeing a troubled progamme running over budget and far beyond the timeline, complexity has been added with the planned introduction of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naval-technology.com\/features\/are-the-trump-class-battleships-really-battleships\/\" target=\"_blank\">Trump-class battleships<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>US shipyards have also struggled to meet the demand in recent years, both in terms of shipbuilding as well as maintenance programmes, resulting in President Trump looking overseas to facilities in countries like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naval-technology.com\/news\/hii-hhi-south-korea-us-shipbuilding\/\" target=\"_blank\">South Korea<\/a> to aid US shipbuilding plans.<\/p>\n<p>The US is also planning to introduce a range of uncrewed naval vessels to provide additional mass, acting potentially as sensor nodes or strike platforms as part of a distributed force, primarily in the Indo-Pacific region.<\/p>\n<p>According to analysis conducted by the US Congressional Research Service in 2025, according to existing plans the number of US Navy warships would increase from 295 to 390 by 2054.<\/p>\n<p>However, before increasing the fleet would become smaller in the near term, falling to 283&nbsp;ships in 2027.<\/p>\n<p>China\u2019s PLAN operates in excess of 370 warships, and is adding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naval-technology.com\/news\/analysis-what-we-know-about-the-fujian-chinas-new-aircraft-carrier\/\" target=\"_blank\">new aircraft carriers<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naval-technology.com\/news\/analysis-what-we-know-about-the-sichuan-chinas-drone-carrier-hybrid\/\" target=\"_blank\">drone assault vessels<\/a> into its battleforce.<\/p>\n<p> <!-- sponsored-whitepaper sponsored hidden sponsored-with-form --> <!-- 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Trump\u00e2\u0080\u0099s <span class=\"match\">shipbuilding<\/span> strategy is not the &#8230; US strategy to naval <span class=\"match\">shipbuilding<\/span> was not the right &#8230; which included aspirations for commercial <span class=\"match\">shipbuilding<\/span>, a Presidential Order directed &#8230; both in terms of <span class=\"match\">shipbuilding<\/span> as well as maintenance &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-92452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92452"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92452\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}