WASHINGTON - Chairman Forbes (R-VA), of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, made the following statement about the hearing titled "The Role of Surface Forces in Presence, Deterrence, and Warfighting".
Chairman Forbes' Opening Remarks
Subcommittee on Seapower & Projection Forces
Chairman Forbes (R-VA), of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, made the following statement about the hearing titled "The Role of Surface Forces in Presence, Deterrence, and Warfighting".
Today the subcommittee meets to discuss the role of surface forces in presence, deterrence, and warfighting. I am particularly pleased to have two distinguished Seapower expert witnesses to testify before our subcommittee: • Mr. Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments; and
• Mr. Bryan McGrath, Managing Director at The FerryBridge Group.
Thank you all for being here and testifying today.
This committee's last hearing discussed the evolving maritime security report in the Navy's recently released report, "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower." Today, we examine surface forces in this new environment and how we accomplish the transition from a defensive to an offensive surface force capable of operating and achieving objectives both independently and in cooperation with other forces.
Looking at our naval surface forces today, we see a multitude of new capabilities are being integrated into the fleet. We are incorporating better sensors including an expanded air and missile defense radar that is 30 times better than current technologies and a new digital electronic warfare capability to better detect, decoy and defeat incoming missiles. We are continuing to expand our anti-submarine warfare capabilities including the addition of multifunction towed array and a variable depth sonar on our small surface combatants that will be able to better track even the quietest of submarines. We are fielding new missiles to better pace the threats we face, including a long range anti-ship missile and better short range missile capabilities resident in the enhanced sea sparrow missile.
Although we face severe fiscal constraints in research and development, there are new technologies available that the Navy will shortly be able to integrate into existing platforms. Advancements in technology, such as the Electromagnetic Railgun and the Laser Weapon System, permit the integration of systems and promote the multi-functionality of systems. Instead of a multimillion missile, a single salvo from a rail gun will cost less than $50 thousand. These systems represent a great opportunity to fundamentally changing the cost curves in our favor.
In additional to harnessing our technological innovation, our Navy is exploring a new concept entitled distributed lethality—a concept that would dis-aggregate and better arm the surface fleet. Providing for a better tactical employment of our surface combatants by dis-aggregating surface combatants from a centralized carrier battle group may represent our best chance of creating a tactical force multiplier. By complicating potential adversaries' ability to successfully target future naval combatants, our Navy becomes more survivable and increases the probability that potential aggressors will decide to pass at future conflict.
I continue to believe the most challenging capability or tactical problem that the Navy has to contend with does not reside within the Department or is it posed by potential adversaries. I believe that the most pervasive and difficult problem that the United States Navy faces today is the will of this body to provide for our common defense and to not to be lulled into a false sense of security. The idea of "American exceptionalism" are not idle words but rather a unique American approach to our current challenges and future goals and objectives. We need to embrace the role of the United States, and especially the role of the U.S. Navy and surface fleet in particular, in maintaining and securing the global commons.
As proponents of seapower, we know that our nation's viability and future is linked to the strength and healthy of our fleet. I just question what we are doing today to ensure our next generation is able to enjoy the same benefits of life and liberty that preceding generations have provided to us."
