TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US Navy recently introduced a strategic document outlining plans to counter Beijing’s growing aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, with a focus on preparing for a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan by 2027.
On Sept. 18, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti released the “Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy 2024.” The document introduces “Project 33,” a program aimed at integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and human intelligence to ensure military superiority in the Western Pacific.
At the core of Project 33 is the use of advanced robotic and autonomous systems, focusing on their practical application on the battlefield. The project outlines seven key objectives:
1. Addressing delays in the maintenance of ships, submarines, and aircraft
2. Expanding the use of robotic and autonomous systems to integrate more platforms quickly
3. Establishing command centers suited for a distributed battlefield
4. Recruiting and retaining top talent
5. Improving service quality
6. Enhancing combat training
7. Repairing critical infrastructure to support shore-based operations
Franchetti highlighted that, given the expected fiscal and industrial constraints, the US Navy will focus on realistic, short-term goals by 2027. These goals include maximizing the efficiency of current capabilities and leveraging drones and emerging technologies rather than significantly expanding the fleet.
She noted that many battlefield innovations have emerged in recent years during the Russo-Ukrainian War and the Red Sea Crisis. Ukraine’s effective use of anti-ship missiles and drones helped suppress the Russian Black Sea fleet, while in the Red Sea region, Houthi forces employed ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones to launch large-scale attacks on US forces.
The admiral emphasized that although US sailors and systems were able to counter these technologies, the military gained valuable insights into the future of naval warfare, such as the use of robotic platforms and more affordable munitions to impose “asymmetric sea denial.” In response, the US Navy has introduced an enlisted Robotics Warfare Specialist rating, is working on integrating robotic and autonomous systems across its numbered fleets, and is testing drone countermeasures such as directed energy weapons.
During an event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, Franchetti said that while projections suggest the future US Navy will need to be larger, achieving this by 2027 is unlikely. She added, “I had to step back and think about how we can think, act, and operate differently with the resources we have to make the most gains in the shortest time possible.”
