How budget talks will shape Marines’ amphibious fleet plans

The Marine Corps wants the Navy to build more amphibious ships to support the Corps’ goal of keeping three amphibious ready groups at sea at all times—but the service still needs to figure out how many it needs, and funding for 2026 remains in flux.  The Marines long to return to the days when they had three amphibious ready groups, each carrying a Marine Expeditionary Unit, deployed at all times. It’s the Corps’ “north star,” Lt. Gen. Eric Austin, d