U.S. Representative Ken Calvert, a Republican from California, highlighted a strategic pivot in American defense planning. He explained that the United States intends to lean on unmanned ships to compensate for delays and gaps in shipbuilding caused by resource constraints and workforce limits. The aim is to preserve maritime tempo and deterrence as the U.S. Navy pursues a broader, more adaptable fleet structure in the face of growing maritime competition.
Calvert noted that the Chinese fleet has grown substantially, with estimates suggesting China could approach 400 ships, a calculation referenced in his remarks at the Reagan Security Forum in California. He contrasted that figure with the roughly 290 ships operated by the United States, arguing that unmanned vessels offer a combination of lower cost and greater operational flexibility. While acknowledging the value of autonomous platforms, he stressed that this shift should complement—not replace—the continued construction of manned warships. He described the current pace of build as a constraint and labeled the situation frustrating, urging steady progress on ship production alongside the integration of unmanned capabilities.
From the congressman’s perspective, the United States faces manpower and industrial capacity challenges that limit its ability to rapidly design and assemble a larger fleet. He underscored the importance of expanding the shipyard workforce, accelerating procurement, and leveraging autonomous systems to sustain naval presence and freedom of navigation in complex theaters.
Historically, China has asserted influence in critical maritime zones, including the South China Sea, where it has expanded naval facilities and established strategic basing. The Yulin naval base, among others, serves as a hub for the submarine fleet and related operations, signaling Beijing’s intent to project power across regional waters. Calvert’s remarks intersect with ongoing discussions about China’s maritime strategy and the balance of naval strength in the Indo-Pacific region.
China is reported to be advancing a range of unmanned surface vessel programs, including sizable platforms that will demand substantial port and dock infrastructure. The development of these ships is expected to enhance the ability to conduct maritime patrols, surveillance, and potentially collective security missions without the same logistical footprint as traditional manned ships. The evolving landscape raises questions about maintenance ecosystems, supply chains, and the readiness of allied navies to respond in concert with such autonomous fleets.
In related forums, discussions have touched on U.S. military support dynamics in the region, including the broader context of security commitments to partners like Taiwan. The evolving balance of deterrence, alliance interoperability, and rapid modernization remains central to policy debates among lawmakers, defense officials, and strategic analysts. The emphasis on unmanned platforms reflects a pragmatic approach to sustaining maritime power while managing fiscal and industrial realities.
Analysts stress that unmanned ships could play a pivotal role in missions that are high-risk or resource-intensive, enabling a mix of long-endurance surveillance, signal intelligence, and limited combat payloads in environments that are contested or congested. However, experts also caution that autonomous systems introduce new challenges in command-and-control, cybersecurity, and reliability under combat conditions. As the U.S. Navy charts a path forward, the integration of unmanned and manned assets will likely hinge on robust modular designs, resilient supply chains, and clear doctrine for combined operations across air, sea, and space domains.
Calvert’s comments underscore a broader imperative: sustain strategic momentum through a diversified fleet that combines traditional shipbuilding with cutting-edge autonomous platforms. The goal is to maintain credible deterrence, ensure freedom of navigation, and support a networked defense posture that can adapt to evolving threats in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. The ongoing policy dialogue will continue to assess budget allocations, industrial base capacity, and the readiness of the U.S. Navy to field a balanced mix of ships and systems that can respond to future challenges with speed and flexibility.