The U.S. Navy Wants To Boost It's Firepower With Rail Guns, Lasers, And Cruise Missiles

Navy Seeks Rail Guns, Lasers, Cruise Missiles To Improve Pacific Firepower -- Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

CRYSTAL CITY: “I’ve never wanted to enter any tactical scenario where all I had is a defensive capability. It’s a losing proposition,” said the chief of Pacific Command, Adm. Samuel Locklear. “You will defend yourself until you’re dead.”

That was the PACOM commander’s blunt and public response when I asked him about the chronic imbalance between the offensive and defensive capabilities of the Navy’s surface warships: its cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and controversial new Littoral Combat Ships. Other admirals had angsted over the issue at last week’s annual conference of the Surface Navy Association here, but it’s no coincidence the man who’d have to command any war with China was the bluntest.

The Navy’s has a three-step plan to boost firepower:

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My Comment: In an age of budget cuts .... I will be surprised if they get most of these weapon systems.