Q&A · 2:03:19-2:04:14

Missile navies repeat part of the Jeune École pattern

Modern missile doctrine echoes the Jeune École when new technology is asked to replace balanced numbers and varied capabilities.

Question

Are modern navies operating under a form of Jeune École doctrine?

Short answer

The doctrines are not equated directly; the comparison concerns reliance on missiles and better individual ships to compensate for fewer hulls.

Notes

The Jeune École comparison is qualified. Modern fleets are described as missile navies with great confidence in what missiles can accomplish. The closer parallel is the pressure to compensate for falling numbers with more capable individual ships. That produces another round of larger, more expensive vessels and further cuts.