Navy Nuclear-Powered Surface Ships: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress
Abstract
All of the Navy's aircraft carriers, but none of its other surface ships, are nuclear-powered. Some Members of Congress, particularly on the House Armed Services Committee, have expressed interest in expanding the use of nuclear power to a wider array of Navy surface ships, starting with the CG(X), a planned new cruiser that the Navy had wanted to start procuring around FY2017. Section 1012 of the FY2008 Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4986/P.L. 110-181 of January 28, 2008) makes it U.S. policy to construct the major combatant ships of the Navy, including ships like the CG(X), with integrated nuclear power systems, unless the Secretary of Defense submits a notification to Congress that the inclusion of an integrated nuclear power system in a given class of ship is not in the national interest. The Navy studied nuclear power as a design option for the CG(X), but did not announce whether it would prefer to build the CG(X) as a nuclear-powered ship. On December 7, 2009, it was reported that the Navy wants to cancel the CG(X) program and instead procure an improved version of the Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class Aegis destroyer, which is a conventionally powered ship.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 23, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA513284
Entities
People
- Ronald O'Rourke
Organizations
- Library of Congress