Navy would need 300 ships to meet future demands.

• Position: Defense Insider

A Navy force-structure review is expected to stir debate on how many ships the service needs to meet growing demand for naval presence around the world.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, said the current plan is for the fleet to remain at 285 ships until 2017 An expansion could come later, assuming that the Navy can secure enough funding.

A 300-ship Navy would be larger than today's fleet but still smaller than previous recommendations. Navy leaders since 2006 have said the fleet should grow to 313 ships.

Greenert said the review is not "budget driven" but is based on what the Navy projects it will need to carry out global responsibilities by 2020.

After Navy Secretary Ray Mabus gives the study the green light it will be sent to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta for approval, and then presented to congressional committees before it is publicly released.

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