The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the South China Sea March 6, 2017. If U.S. lawmakers fail to approve a full-year budget and rely on a stopgap measure instead, the Navy will face maintenance backlogs and other shortfalls that will keep carriers from deploying on schedule and leave critical coverage gaps around the world, an official said. (U.S. Navy photo/Devin M. Monroe)
DoD Buzz: Admiral: Carrier Gaps Could Return in 2018
If U.S. lawmakers fail to approve a full-year budget and rely on a stopgap measure instead, the Navy will face maintenance backlogs and other shortfalls that will keep its biggest warships from deploying on schedule and leave critical carrier gaps around the world, an official said.
Vice Adm. Joseph Mulloy, deputy chief of naval operations for integration of capabilities and resources, this week said the prospect of shutting down two air wings, going to minimal operations on three more, and delaying 14 ship maintenance availabilities — a scenario predicted by Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran in February — was the minimum damage the Navy could expect if the service did not receive the readiness finding it needed for the rest of the fiscal year.
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WNU Editor: I suspect that this budgetary problem that has produced these carrier gaps will be resolved by spending more money in the coming weeks/months. But the real issue on what are U.S. strategic objectives .... and why must they have these aircraft carriers .... has yet to be discussed.
