The Navy claims it needs additional warships, but the contract excludes a couple.
The Navy needs additional destroyers of the Arleigh Burke-class as cruisers continue to leave the fleet. A handful of legislators have shown willingness to finance three new destroyers every year. However, the Navy’s near-term construction plans only call for two every year. In addition, it intends to request just nine assured ships under the following five-year purchase deal. According to a shipbuilding official, a 10-ship agreement will save the Navy more money than a nine-ship contract.
He says that the alternative ships would cost extra since they are not guaranteed. Rep. Rob Wittman: “Fewer ships or the ability to destroy ships should not be our objective.” Rep. Jared Golden criticized the Navy for failing to take concrete measures to assist shipyards in meeting their goals. Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Virginia, attacked the strategy, telling Navy officials that they “made a proposal that you acknowledge would be more costly in the long run and virtually decimate the workforce.”
Next month, the House Armed Services Committee will consider the yearly defense authorization bill. The vice president of program management at Ingalls Shipbuilding said that the shipyard thinks the LHA program is lacking.
