How many more ships could the US Navy operate with greater automation?
Short answerAutomation could substantially reduce crews, but fleet growth depends on whether operating doctrine and safety practices also change.
NotesThe comparison begins with roughly 300 to 320 people in an Arleigh Burke and about 190 in a Type 45. The panel estimates that adopting similar automation could remove roughly a hundred billets from an American destroyer, though the number is only an approximation. Zumwalt's boat-handling system can theoretically be run by one crane operator, yet US practice still assigns a full standby team. Other NATO navies use an on-call arrangement in which sailors leave their normal jobs only when manual help is needed. Equipment, safety rules, and organisation therefore combine to determine the actual crew total.