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The Navy is trying to get rid of its cruisers again, but it's heading for another fight over their fate
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The Navy is trying to get rid of its cruisers again, but it's heading for another fight over their fate

The US Navy says its cruisers are too old and too expensive, but Congress says they're too well armed to get rid of without a replacement.

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After the decommissioning of its final battleship in 1992, the US Navy's cruisers became the largest and most well-armed warships of the surface fleet. Today, the Navy has 21 active Ticonderoga-class cruisers, with one laid up.

Able to carry a whopping 122 missiles and other weapons, the Ticonderogas pose a significant threat to any enemy and have played a central role in the Navy's power-projection since 1980.

Despite this, for nearly a decade, the Navy has been trying to get rid of its cruisers, citing their age and upkeep costs. Congress has repeatedly rebuffed the service's plans, primarily out of fear that losing the ships could limit American ability to respond to threats from China.

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But the Navy is committed to divesting its cruisers, and its most recent effort, outlined in the Navy's 2022 budget request, looks set for another intense debate in Congress.