INVENTORY ISSUES

摘要

THE RULE OF thumb when it comes to the strength of the US Navy is usually measured by the size of the fleet - the number of ships in the battle force. The navy's current goal of growing to 355 ships by 2030 is expensive and many observers doubt America can afford the bill. But often lost in the debate is the cost of sustaining a potent aviation force, which faces many of the same issues: the increasing cost of procurement, and sustainment of an over-worked and ever-aging fleet of aircraft. But the outlook for naval aviation is more positive than for shipbuilding, thanks to aggressive procurement supported by Congress.