Navy Shifts Strategy, Prioritizes Smaller Ships and Drones
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Navy’s top uniformed officer, Adm. Daryl Caudle, is advocating for a shift in naval strategy, moving away from a consistent reliance on large aircraft carriers and toward deploying smaller, more adaptable ships and leveraging emerging technologies like drones. This vision, outlined in his “Fighting Instructions”, aims to provide the Navy with greater flexibility in responding to global crises.
The move comes as the Trump administration has recently redirected aircraft carriers and other naval assets to address escalating concerns in various regions, including Venezuela and Iran. These deployments have disrupted established schedules, stretched resources, and placed increased strain on vessels already facing maintenance challenges.
The USS Gerald R. Ford was redirected from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caribbean Sea late last year, ultimately supporting operations related to the situation with then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. More recently, the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran, having been pulled from the South China Sea.
Tailored Responses for Specific Threats
Caudle believes a more tailored approach to deployments will allow the Navy to respond more effectively to specific regional challenges. He has already begun discussions with the commander of U.S. Southern Command, which oversees the Caribbean and Venezuela, to determine the appropriate level of naval presence for that region.
“I want to be able to convey that I can meet that with a tailored package there,” Caudle said, envisioning a leaner presence in the Caribbean focused on interdictions and monitoring merchant shipping. He noted that missions like intercepting vessels connected to Venezuela, which have been operating within a global shadow fleet to evade sanctions, do not necessarily require a full carrier strike group.
Instead, Caudle suggests utilizing smaller littoral combat ships, Navy helicopters, and increased coordination with the Coast Guard. The Navy has maintained a significant presence in South American waters in recent months, with 11 ships, including the Ford and several amphibious assault ships, a substantial increase compared to the historically smaller deployments of one or two ships.
“I don’t want a lot of destroyers there driving around just to actually operate the radar to get awareness on motor vessels and other tankers coming out of port,” Caudle explained. “It’s really not a well-suited match for that mission.”
Embracing Drone Technology
To further enhance flexibility and reduce reliance on large, expensive warships, Caudle is advocating for increased use of drones and other robotic systems. He acknowledges that convincing commanders to embrace this shift will require an “education campaign,” as staff may not yet be familiar with how to integrate these new capabilities into existing operational plans.
“That requires a bit of an education campaign here,” he added.
President Trump has historically favored bold and visible displays of naval power, often referring to aircraft carriers and their accompanying vessels as “armadas” and “flotillas.” He has also championed the development of a new type of battleship equipped with advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles and rail guns, though the Navy has faced challenges in fielding these technologies and even building smaller ships on time and within budget.
Applying the Strategy Globally
Caudle believes his strategy is already proving successful in Europe and North America and could soon be applied to the Bering Strait, separating Russia and Alaska, as the Arctic region gains increasing strategic importance. He suggested that if the USS Abraham Lincoln’s recent redeployment to the Middle East had occurred under his new plan, he would have compensated for its absence with a smaller, three-ship group.
He also pointed to the growing concerns surrounding China and Russia in the Arctic, citing President Trump’s previous expressions of interest in acquiring Greenland, the Arctic island overseen by Denmark, as evidence of the region’s rising strategic value.
“I know I need to offer the commanders in that region ‘more solutions’ and my ‘tailored force packages would be a way to get after that,’” Caudle said.
