The U.S. and Royal Navies appear to be moving in the direction of a merger. U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday, and the head of the Royal Navy, First Sea Lord Adm. Tony Radakin intend to “sign a future integrated warfighting statement of intent that sets a cooperative vision for interchangeability,” Gilday announced at the virtual Atlantic Future Forum, being held onboard the RN’s new aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, Defense News reported yesterday. The word “interchangeability” is the new buzzword for joint operational capability, replacing the long standard “interoperability.” The old word indicated that military systems of different countries had to be able to talk to each other and otherwise be compatible, but now something else is coming along.
“We will synchronize pioneering capabilities, strengthen operating concepts and focus our collective efforts to deliver combined sea power together,” Gilday said. “By organizing our cooperation on carrier strike, underwater superiority, navy and marine integration and doubling down on future war fighting like unmanned and artificial intelligence, we will remain on the leading edge of great power competition.”
One indication of this “interchangeability” is the deployment of a U.S. Marine squadron of F-35B stealth fighters aboard the Queen Elizabeth. “Throughout our careers we have had a drive for interoperability with allies, but increasingly it feels to us that bar has to be raised,” he said, referring to the Marine jets aboard the British carrier. “That is an obvious example of interchangeability,” he said. “So, we are trying to drive a new standard. Partly to drive all of us to strengthen our interoperability but to go even higher and recognize that interchangeability is going to be an even stronger feature in the future.”
