The U.S. Navy faces multiple global threats with an aging fleet. For two decades, the Navy has been unable to build ships fast enough to replace retiring vessels. Currently, the U.S. Navy has vessels in service that have exceeded or are within five years of the end of their service lives.
Notes: This page was originally published March 4, 2026. Data excludes Navy vessels categorized as “Other.”
Source: U.S. Department of the Navy, Naval Vessel Register.
Design and Development: Data visualization by John W. Fleming and Jay Simon. Research by Brent Sadler.