Navy Acquisitions: Improved Littoral War-Fighting Capabilities Needed

According to the Department of the Navy, the primary purpose of forward-deployed naval forces is to project power from the sea to influence events ashore. To be successful, our naval forces must be able to gain access to, and operate in the littoral regions of, potential adversaries. Consequently, they must be able to detect and neutralize enemy sea mines and submarines, and to protect themselves against cruise missiles and other antiship weapons. Finally, they must be able to launch and support offensive operations against enemy forces ashore. In this context, the Navy has as one of its missions the support of the Marine Corps as it conducts amphibious operations. We have reported on the extent of these capabilities in several individual reports over the last 6 years. This report responds to your request that we update and consolidate the assessments contained in these reports and provide an overall assessment of the Navys capabilities to operate in the littoral. Specifically, we assessed the Navys existing mine countermeasures, antisubmarine warfare, ship self-defense,