Navy DD(X), CG(X), and LCS Ship Acquisition Programs: Oversight Issues and Options for Congress
Abstract
The Navy wants to procure three new classes of surface combatants -- the DD(X) destroyer, the CG(X) cruiser, and a smaller surface combatant called the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). The Navy reportedly wants to procure a total of 7 DD(X)s, 19 CG(X)s, and 55 LCSs. The DD(X), CG(X), and LCS programs raise several oversight issues for Congress, including the affordability of the DD(X) and CG(X) and the total cost of the LCS program. Options for Congress for the DD(X) program include approving the program as proposed by the Navy and supplementing the industrial base, if needed, with additional work; deferring procurement of the lead DD(X) to FY2008; procuring two or more DD(X)s per year; building DD(X)s at a single yard, or building each DD(X) jointly at two yards; terminating the DD(X) program now (or after procuring one or two ships as technology demonstrators), and supplementing the industrial base with additional work until the start of CG(X) procurement; and starting design work now on a smaller, less expensive cruiser-destroyer and procuring this new design, rather than DD(X)s or CG(X)s, starting around FY2011. Options for Congress on the LCS program include shifting procurement funding for LCS mission modules to the Navy's ship-procurement account; procuring a few LCSs and then evaluating them before deciding whether to put the LCS into larger-scale series production; procuring LCSs at a rate of up to 10 per year; procuring LCSs at a rate of less than 6 per year; and terminating the LCS program and instead investing more in other littoral-warfare improvements. This report will be updated as events warrant.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 28, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA472653
Entities
People
- Ronald O'Rourke
Organizations
- Library of Congress