In February 2006, the Navy proposed a future ship force structure of 313 ships, including, among other things, 14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), 11 (and eventually 12) aircraft carriers, 48 attack submarines (SSNs), 88 cruisers and destroyers, 55 Littoral Combat Ships (LCSs), 31 amphibious ships, and a Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future), or MPF(F), squadron with 12 new-construction amphibious and sealift-type ships. In February 2007, the Navy reiterated this proposed 313-ship force structure and submitted a six-year (FY2008-FY2013) shipbuilding plan and a 30-year (FY2008-FY2037) shipbuilding plan. The final report on the 2005 Quadrennial Defense Review supported a fleet of more than 281 ships, including 11 carriers, but did not explicitly endorse a 313-ship fleet including the numbers that the Navy has outlined for other types of ships. Regarding the 313-ship proposal, some observers have questioned the Navy s planned figures for amphibious ships and SSNs, and have suggested that a fleet with 33 amphibious ships and more than 48 SSNs would be more appropriate. The Navy s 30-year shipbuilding plan does not include enough ships to fully support all elements of the 313-ship fleet consistently over the long run. Deficiencies in the 30-year shipbuilding plan relative to the 313-ship fleet include 1 amphibious ship, 4 cruise missile submarines (SSGNs), 8 SSNs, and about 10 cruisers and destroyers. The Navy says that for its shipbuilding plans to be affordable and executable, the Navy needs to be funded at a certain overall level, control certain nonshipbuilding expenditures, and build ships within estimated costs. Some observers have questioned whether these things will come to pass. With regard to the last of these items, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Navy s shipbuilding program will cost about 35% more than the Navy estimates.
Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress
2007
37 pages
Report
No indication
English