According to the United States Congressional Audit Office, the Navy is the most severely constrained of the four main military services due to inadequate combat readiness. As the U.S. Navy plays a crucial role in a potential conflict with China, these assessment results are cause for concern.
According to the Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Navy has the worst “resource readiness” score from 2017 to 2021. The classified comparison assesses the efficiency of the four services in acquiring parts, personnel, equipment, and training to “perform the mission.”
According to Diana Maurer, director of defence capabilities and administration at the Congressional Audit Office, China and Russia have developed and improved their military capabilities. However, the assessment indicates that nearly two decades of conflict have weakened U.S. military preparedness.
The services of the United States evaluate military readiness in two ways: whether the soldiers are adequately equipped and able to complete their missions. Maurer stated that the CAO’s statement highlighted significant findings and recommendations from over thirty reports on various readiness dimensions. And what we discovered is quite unsettling.
Maurer’s statement was primarily a summary of previous reports, including a January report on the particularly poor readiness of surface ships, which paint a troubling picture of the depth and breadth of the readiness challenges facing the United States Navy.
Maurer stated that ground readiness improved from the fiscal year 2017 to 2021, maritime readiness declined, and air and space readiness was divided.
The aggregated report of the Congressional Audit Office casts doubt on the Navy’s current capability to defeat China in a conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan. According to some analysts, China could have the military capability to attack Taiwan by force as early as 2027.
According to the Congressional Audit Office, the Navy estimated the total cost of repairs to clear surface ships at $1.7 billion and repairs to aircraft carriers at nearly $100 million.
The U.S. Navy chief, Admiral Michael Gilday, told a House panel last month that certain ships were “manned, trained, and well-equipped” for combat operations. However, he stated that he is not satisfied with the Navy’s current maintenance and readiness. That must significantly change.
