452 | Jerry Hendrix: The Age of U.S. Naval Dominance Is Over
Feb 6, 2024
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Naval power expert Jerry Hendrix discusses the challenges faced by the US Navy in Asia, the importance of understanding the Navy's proper context, the significance of aircraft carriers in naval operations, the role of drones in military warfare, lack of focus on industrial capacity, and the historical shift of the United States from land power to sea power.
The US Navy's naval dominance is challenged in the Middle East and Pacific conflicts, highlighting the need for readiness and a strong naval presence.
The United States should repair and expand its defense industrial base to effectively respond to threats in the Asia Pacific and ensure supply chain resilience.
Current naval capabilities face limitations in non-permissive environments, emphasizing the potential of unmanned platforms to extend sensor range and improve offensive capabilities.
Deep dives
Challenges faced by the US Navy in the current conflict in the Middle East and the Pacific
The podcast episode discusses the challenges faced by the US Navy in the current conflict in the Middle East and the Pacific. The US Navy serves as the main means of reprisal against Houthi rebels disrupting global shipping in the Middle East. There is also a focus on the possible conflict in the Pacific, specifically the threat to Taiwan and the competition between the United States and China. The episode highlights the importance of understanding the current moment the United States finds itself in and the consequences of past decisions. It emphasizes the need for readiness and a strong naval presence in the region.
The importance of a strong industrial base and the threat to Taiwan
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of having a strong industrial base to support the US Navy and discusses the need to repair and expand the United States' industrial capacity. It also highlights the growing threat to Taiwan and the potential for a significant geostrategic event in the near future. The episode stresses the importance of focusing on the Asia Pacific threat and ensuring readiness and maintenance of naval assets in order to effectively respond to any crisis.
The limitations of current naval capabilities and the role of unmanned platforms
The podcast episode examines the limitations of current naval capabilities, particularly in non-permissive environments. It discusses the challenges of projecting power and achieving range and strike capabilities in the face of advanced anti-access/area denial systems. Additionally, the episode explores the potential role of unmanned platforms, such as unmanned combat aerial vehicles, unmanned surface craft, and unmanned underwater systems, in extending sensor range, improving awareness, and enhancing offensive capabilities in these environments.
The need for domestic resiliency and the importance of a strong defense industrial base
The podcast episode highlights the need for domestic resiliency and a strong defense industrial base. It emphasizes the importance of investing in domestic manufacturing and industrial capacity, particularly in critical sectors like steel, metal fabrication, and electronics. The episode argues that a robust defense industrial base is essential for maintaining national security and ensuring supply chain resilience in times of crisis.
The shift towards a maritime-focused foreign policy and the role of the United States as a sea power
The podcast episode discusses the shift towards a maritime-focused foreign policy and the importance of the United States embracing its role as a sea power. It explores the historical roots of the United States as a sea power and the need to re-emphasize naval dominance in strategic planning. The episode argues for a navalist approach to global challenges, where the United States prioritizes dominating the sea, air, space, and cyberspace domains while supporting allies and partners in their land-based defense efforts.
Dr. Jerry Hendrix, Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute and author of To Provide and Maintain: Why Naval Primacy Is America's First Best Strategy, joins The Realignment. Marshall and Jerry discuss the conflict with Yemen's Houthi rebels and a potential conflict in Asia through a naval lens, the case for increasing the size of the U.S. Navy, what a proper mix of carriers, aircraft, and drones in the fleet would look like, and the need to revitalize the defense industrial base.
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