WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Navy secretary made the announcement based on the results of the 2016 Force Structure Assessment (FSA).
"To continue to protect America and defend our strategic interests around the world, all while continuing the counter terrorism fight and appropriately competing with a growing China and resurgent Russia, our Navy must continue to grow," Mabus stated in a release.
The 355-ship fleet should include 12 carriers, 104 large surface combatants, 52 small surface combatants and 38 amphibious ships along with 66 submarines, according to the FSA.
"The current proposed Navy budget is seen as a bridge to this larger Navy, with shipbuilding on an upward glide slope towards 308 ships," the Navy said in the release.
Over the last seven years, the US Navy has put 86 new ships under contract, according to the release.
