The US Commander, US Pacific Command told lawmakers the fast-increasing threat of North Korean military action underscores the need for a larger number of submarines, precision-guided weapons and surface ships in the Pacific theater.
"That's why the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group is back on patrol in Northeast Asia. That's why we must continue to debut America's newest and best military platforms in the Indo-Asia-Pacific," Adm. Harry Harris told the House Armed Services' Committee.
The assessment could likely mean more carriers, submarines, destroyers and amphibious assault ships, among other things.
The Navy assessment for 2018 calls for a sizeable jump up to 355 ships, including 12 carriers, 104 large surface combatants and 66 attack submarines. In the meantime, the services? near term 2017 proposed fleet size seeks to increase the current 274-ship fleet up to 308.
On the heels of the completion of this assessment, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations has also called for a much larger fleet, while specifying that the exact number should depend upon global service activities, threats and the needs of combatant commanders.