WASHINGTON - U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert told Congress that sequestration will prevent the Navy from meeting its requirements under the Defense Strategic Guidance, and pleaded with lawmakers to eliminate the automatic spending cuts. Sequestration has already resulted in Navy budget shortfalls of $9 billion in FY13, $5 billion in FY14, and $11 billion in FY15. These shortfalls have forced the Navy to scale back operations, increase its maintenance backlogs, and defer modernization programs, Greenert said in prepared testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on January 28.

Lawmakers provided limited sequester relief in FY14 and FY15, though the cuts will return in full force in FY16. Greenert said the Navy would lose about $10 billion in FY16, and a total of $36 billion between FY16 and FY20, resulting in steep cuts to operations, research, and procurement accounts. The Navy was able to partially mitigate sequestration cuts in the past using prior-year investment balances, but these balances have been depleted.

The Navy currently maintains about 100 ships forward deployed, representing roughly one-third of the fleet. Included in those 100 ships are two carrier strike groups and two amphibious ready groups. Another three CSGs and three ARGs are always kept in a contingency response status, which would allow them to deploy within 30 days if necessary. Under sequestration, Greenert says the Navy would only be able to maintain a contingency response force of one CSG and one ARG. Sequestration would also further aggravate existing maintenance backlogs.

Greenert warned that the Navy would be forced to delay acquisition programs such as advanced jammers, sensors, and weapons; and reduce procurement of missiles, torpedoes, and bombs. Shipbuilding programs would also be impacted, leading to a smaller fleet down the road. "Because ship construction can span up to nine years, program procurement cancelled in FY16 will not be felt by the combatant commanders until several years later when the size of the battle force begins to shrink as those ships are not delivered to the fleet at the planned time," Greenert said.

"Unless this Nation envisions a significantly diminished security role for its military, we must address the growing mismatch in ends, ways, and means," Greenert concluded. The admiral's words echo warnings that have been issued time and again, though Congress has yet to take any action that would significantly alter or eliminate sequestration.

Source: Forecast International - International Military Markets
Associated URL: http://www.forecastinternational.com
Author: S. McDougall, North America Analyst