Modularity and Adaptability in Future U.S. Navy Ship Designs

The U.S. Navy is in transition. For roughly 25 years after the end of the Cold War it had not faced a peer or near-peer competitor. Starting in 2001, the U.S military had focused on land conflict involving irregular warfare (Department of Defense, 2007). The result was that from a peak size of 594 ships in 1987, the fleet had dwindled to between 270 and 290 ships in recent years; with force-level goals generally in the low 300s. The current number of ships in the battle force is 280 as of late September 2017 (Naval Vessel Register).