Is the Navy ready? How the U.S. is preparing amid a naval buildup in China | 60 Minutes

U.S. Navy Concerns

• The U.S. Navy is concerned about its readiness and size compared to China's rapidly growing Navy.
• There are concerns within the U.S. Navy about the size of the fleet and its readiness to fight, with some arguing that the Navy is not receiving the resources it needs.

China's Growing Navy

• China's Navy has become the world's largest, surpassing the U.S. Navy in terms of the number of ships.
• The U.S. Navy is concerned about China's intentions towards Taiwan and the potential for conflict in the region.

U.S. Navy Actions

• The U.S. Navy is taking steps to deter China, including deploying aircraft carriers and conducting military exercises in the Western Pacific.
• The U.S. Navy is also working to modernize its fleet and increase its shipbuilding capacity to keep pace with China.
• The U.S. Navy is working to reduce maintenance delays and improve the well-being of its Sailors.

Unmanned Vessels

• Admiral Gilday believes that unmanned vessels will make up 40% of the U.S. Fleet in the future.
• The Orca is a highly capable unmanned undersea vehicle with clandestine mine-laying capabilities.
• Despite being over budget and behind schedule, Admiral Gilday sees a high return on investment from the Orca due to its lethality and stealth.

U.S. Navy Budget

• The Navy's budget request for fiscal year 2024 is over a quarter of a trillion dollars, with a focus on China.

China's Perspective

• China views the U.S. defense posture as aggressive, particularly the Navy's collaboration with other navies to ensure freedom and openness of the maritime commons.
• The U.S. Navy's presence is intended to reassure allies and partners, not to provoke China, as the global economy relies heavily on sea trade.