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SASC Emphasizes New Ships, Especially LPD-25, LHA(R)
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
05/09/2006 09:43:32 AM

Senate defense authorizers are trying to boost the U.S. Navy's shipbuilding by adding $1.5 billion to the Bush administration's request to accelerate the LPD-25 expeditionary warship, advance procurement for the new classes of CVN-21 aircraft carrier and LHA-Replacement amphibious assault ship, and to drive down costs in Virginia-class attack submarine design.

The Senate Armed Services Committee, in its May 4 markup of its annual defense policy bill for fiscal 2007, authorized construction for eight ships and a total of $12.1 billion for shipbuilding. The administration requested $11.2 billion for seven new ships in FY '07 (DAILY, Feb. 7).

In particular, SASC staff said the panel added $1.3 billion for Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen's top unfunded shipbuilding priority, the LPD-25. When commissioned in 2011, the USS Somerset will be the ninth in a new class of amphibious transport dock ships (LPD 17) built by Northrop Grumman Corp. The inaugural LPD 17 experienced delays and cost increases but is now being certified for Marine Corps aircraft (DAILY, May 8).

A SASC summary of its bill said senators authorized construction of two new warship classes, including the contentious DD(X) destroyer. Details of the SASC bill were not available. The panel also authorized $175 million in advance procurement for the second LHA(R) "to gain program savings and reduce construction costs."

The senators also approved a long-term plan for "affordable" construction of the future aircraft carrier class, CVN-21, and provided advance procurement authority and $50 million in additional authorized advance funds for the first three ships of the class. They also provided incremental funding authority.

The Navy and Northrop Grumman had asked lawmakers to go ahead and authorize quadrennial shipbuilding for CVN-21s now, which was a bit unique (DAILY, April 7). Service and company representatives are asserting that they can trim construction costs on successive flattops.

Meanwhile, the SASC as expected included a provision to undo a Navy requirement to keep up 12 active aircraft carriers. If enacted, which also is expected, it would allow the Navy to retire the USS John F. Kennedy early and redirect its funding to other shipbuilding.

At the same time, the SASC authorized the budget request for Virginia-class research and development, and added $85 million to "incorporate critical capabilities in support of increasing the submarine build rate at the earliest opportunity in the future years defense plan." But Senate defense authorizers did not necessarily call for accelerated production of two subs annually, as their House counterparts did (DAILY, April 28).

The SASC also added $25 million for planning and engineering for modernization of the 62-ship DDG-51 Arleigh Burke destroyer class, and added $10 million for the National Shipbuilding Research Program, which seeks innovation and efficiency in ship construction.