February 10, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Navy advances plans to reshuffle traditional carrier strike group model
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle’s tailored force initiative is embedded in his new “Fighting Instructions” guidance released on Monday that outlines how the Navy plans to organize, train, equip, and fight.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle answers questions from Sailors during an all hands call on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in November. (U.S.
Navy photo/Melvin J. Gonzalvo) WEST 2026 — The Navy is seeking to shake up its traditional carrier strike group model, with new plans for tailored forces that aim to provide the service greater flexibility, according to the Navy’s top officer. Building upon previous efforts to interchange destroyers from various carrier strike groups in the Red Sea against the Houthis, the Navy wants to augment these strike groups with scalable and customized forces as part of a broader campaign to provide combatant commanders new formation options to tackle specific missions.