Audio Briefs Why the Golden Fleet Will Sail
Jan 9, 2026
Benjamin Jensen, a CSIS naval-strategy analyst, outlines why large VLS-heavy surface ships matter. He traces the idea from dreadnoughts to modern arsenal-ship concepts. He examines trade-offs between concentrated magazine ships and distributed fleets. He discusses shipbuilding reform, industrial innovation, and how massive naval fires fit doctrine and regional hedge strategies.
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Longstanding Tradeoff Between Firepower And Risk
- Naval history shows recurring trade-offs between concentrated long-range firepower and the rising cost and vulnerability of large capital ships.
- Benjamin Jensen traces this from the dreadnought era to modern debates about massed salvo platforms and survivability concerns.
Modern Arsenal Ships Exist Today
- Jensen illustrates modern parallels by listing large missile-armed surface combatants like Russia's Admiral Nakhimov and China's Type 055.
- He notes the Admiral Nakhimov has 176 VLS cells while Type 055 carries roughly 100 VLS cells.
Arsenal Ship Concept Was Cost‑Focused Remote Magazine
- The 1990s U.S. arsenal ship concept aimed for low-cost mass fires with up to 500 VLS cells and minimal crew as a remote magazine.
- Jensen cites original proponents, estimated $450–$550M price, and a later Huntington Ingalls revival converting an LPD to 288 VLS cells.