Navy focusing on hitting first and fast

SAN DIEGO - The Navy has “spent a lot of time” over the years playing defense, Rear Adm. Ronald Boxall, director of surface warfare, told attendees here at the West 2019 conference. However, "the best defense is a good offense, and the idea that we will go after the threat - at range - is something that we have to be able to do.” His statements align with the shifting focus of the surface and submarine fleets, from defending against missile attacks to developing new weapons and tactics, to prioritize hitting first and fast. The admiral’s comments come as the Pentagon braces for new challenges such as modern Chinese surface ships, submarines, and aircraft in the Pacific, and Russian assets in around Europe and the Arctic. The Chinese fleet in the western Pacific keeps a close eye, and has become a “dance partner,” with American ships, according to Vice Adm. John Alexander, commander of Third Fleet. Those encounters are generally professional, but have made Navy brass concerned about the Chinese’s medium-to-long-range missiles that can hit U.S. bases (Guam, Japan, and Okinawa) and ships in the region. Testifying before Congress on Feb. 12, Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. Phillip Davidson told senators he was most interested in innovations in heavy-weight torpedo technology for its subs. Boxall message on the West Coast to defense and industry executives: The Navy needs to move toward more offensive weapons to prevent being in a position where it has to “go broke playing defense,” when the sea-service can up-man its own position though an aggressive offensive posture. The Navy already expects to put the anti-ship Naval Strike Missile aboard for the Littoral Combat Ship, and future FFG(X) guided missile frigates, later this year. Submarines are bringing back the Harpoon missile. (Source: Breaking Defense 02/14/19) Gulf Coast Note: Independence class LCS are built at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. Austal is also among four other shipyards that could be bidding on the FFG(X).