The Defense Department has argued for increases in spending of 3-5% in the coming years to fund a shift from counterinsurgency wars to potential great-power conflict. 'Consequently, garnering sufficient support to increase defense spending to the level needed for a force with a two-war capacity is problematic,' it added. 'Absent a dramatic change in circumstances such as the onset of a major conflict, a multitude of competing interests' will tend to 'favor spending on domestic programs rather than investing in defense,' the report found. The report also noted the factors that will fuel arguments against boosting military budgets. 6, Esper issued a 'Battle Force 2045' plan for the Navy calling for a force of about 500 ships in a to-be-determined mix of manned and unmanned combatants. The Heritage report called for a Navy of 400 manned 'battle force ships,' a figure essentially in line with the recommendation of former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, accounting for metrics. In its annual report to Congress on China's military strength issued in September, the Defense Department said that China now 'has the largest navy in the world, with an overall battle force of approximately 350 ships and submarines, including over 130 major surface combatants.'

ships going up against a Chinese navy of 350 ships quickly growing to 400 in the next few years,' Wood said. 'Of those 100, perhaps 60 are deployed into the Western Pacific - so 60 U.S. Of the 300, 'only about 100 are available on a daily basis,' he said. The Navy currently has roughly 300 ships, and 'over half of those ships are more than 20 years old,' Wood said. Wood noted it takes at least five years to build an aircraft carrier, and two years to build other surface combatants. The ratings for the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps were 'marginal ' but the rating for the Navy was trending to 'weak,' based on the number of ships, their age and the time it takes to produce more, according to the Index.

military strength across the service branches on a five-tiered scale of 'very weak,' 'weak,' 'marginal,' 'strong' and 'very strong.'

'We have really under-invested over a number of years.' The corrective, he said is increased funding - despite current record defense spending in the range of $740 billion.

Enemy front proper crack only