Not widely covered by media, the Defense Department announces the Navy plans to build 82 ships by 2026 at a cost of $147 billion, notes Grumpy Editor.
The shipbuilding plan includes three attack submarines, four large unmanned surface vessels, development of light amphibious warships and retirement of most of the Navy's current cruisers.
Observers say the ambitious plan, based on a classified study presented to Congress earlier this month, will likely initiate a battle in Congress between the Navy and other U.S. service branches over funding.
"The plan calls for a larger fleet of both manned and unmanned vessels prepared to face greater challenges on, above or under the sea, by accelerating submarine construction, modernizing aircraft, extending the service life of cruisers and increasing the number of destroyers," says David L. Norquist, deputy secretary of defense.
The Defense Department adds, “The Navy will still sail proven, traditional capabilities, such as attack submarines, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and air wings, and logistics forces, but the study also looked at building more small multi-mission combatants.”
IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...
POPULATION, MEDIAN AGE EDGE UP. U.S. population increased about 8 percent --- to 332.6 million people --- over the past decade, reveals the Census Bureau. Median age edges up to 38.5 years, vs. 37.2 in 2010.
YES, SAME AFGHANISTAN. On Saturday, five rockets are fired at Bagram Airfield, major U.S. base in Afghanistan. Grumpy Editor finds many things don’t change in the world after viewing “Enchantment,” a 1948 movie that takes place during World War II. In the movie, actor David Niven plays a military officer informed that he is going to --- Afghanistan.
MONARCH BUTTERFLY RECOGNIZED. Federal officials declare the monarch butterfly is a candidate for threatened or endangered status with action likely in the years ahead.
TOO MANY WOMEN WORKERS BRING FINE. City hall in Paris, France, is fined about $110,000 for appointing too many women to top positions in 2018.
DAYTIME TV IS SECOND PRIME TIME NOW. With the pandemic resulting in more people at home, ratings-research firm Nielsen says daytime is a second prime time --- with an audience with much higher spending power.
MARINES WITHOUT TANKS? U.S. Marines plan to shed its heavy armor (battle tanks) battalions as part of a 10-year redesign.
COYOTE VISITS FIRE STATION. Firefighters in a Fort Lauderdale station are surprised to find an unusual visitor wandering through their firehouse --- a coyote. It is surprising since the station is in a dense urban neighborhood about a mile from the beach. The coyote soon ran out of the station.
BUSINESSMAN PAYS UTILITY BILLS. Gulf Breeze, Florida, business owner Michael Esmond covers overdue utility bills for 114 families at risk of losing service in the holiday season. Esmond, owner of Gulf Breeze Pools & Spa near Pensacola, donates $7,615 as the city faces an economic downturn caused by the pandemic and Hurricane Sally.
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