Surface Warship & Aircraft Carrier Construction

The ability to design, engineer, and construct large, highly complex and sophisticated warships is limited to only a few U.S. shipbuilders, with Navy shipbuilding and repair orders comprising the lion's share of business. For example, the current Navy shipbuilding and conversion plan funds two builders for the Arleigh Burke (DDG-51)-class Aegis guided missile destroyers — Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Congress has approved a multi-year procurement of 13 DDG-51s from FY 1998 through 2001 that, in addition to helping preserve critical industrial capabilities, will save U.S. taxpayers more than $1 billion compared to the traditional, annual procurement strategy. Design and development of the lead ship of the new San Antonio (LPD-17)-class amphibious transport dock ship is continuing, with follow-on requests for another 11 LPDs to ensure the Navy's 12 amphibious ready groups comprise the most modern ship platforms and systems. Additionally, the National Defense Sealift Fund supports constructing several Large Medium-Speed Roll-On/Roll-Off (RO/RO) ships to enhance strategic sealift and provide much-needed work for U.S. shipyards.

The Navy is also committed to acquiring the tenth Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, CVN-77, which will serve as a bridge to the next-generation aircraft carrier class, CVX. By accelerating full-funding for CVN-77 - the first aircraft carrier of the 21st century — from FY 2002 to 2001, the nation will save several hundred million dollars on the total cost of the ship. These savings can then be reallocated to other critical Navy requirements. This will also help to preserve a unique element of the U.S. industrial base by safeguarding some 3,000 skilled jobs at Newport News Shipbuilding — the nation's sole shipyard capable of building nuclear-powered carriers — as well as many thousands of other carrier-related jobs throughout the United States.

Aircraft Production

The September 1997 Navy-Marine Corps Naval Aviation Plan lays out the future roadmap for Naval Aviation, and shows the Navy's commitment to a viable military aircraft industrial and technological base through new acquisition, service life extensions, and upgrades to existing platforms. In the near-term, for example, production of the advanced F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, even at the "reduced buy" called for in the Quadrennial Defense Review, will be critical for maintaining the health of Naval Aviation. For the far-term "tech-base," the Air Force-Navy-Marine Corps Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program is a priority-one Defense Department major acquisition. JSF objectives are to speed introduction of new technologies, reduce development costs, achieve manufacturing economies of scale, and ensure compatibility among the services for the next generation of aviation strike systems. There is an important international element in the JSF Program as well, with the United Kingdom participating in design and development initiatives and several other allied air forces keenly interested in future affiliation.

Weapons Production

The capability to design and produce sophisticated weapons is protected by procuring selected weapons at a minimum sustaining rate from each producer. The cost penalty incurred through buying at less than economically efficient rates has been accepted, albeit reluctantly, to keep production lines open. Key areas of continuing focus include the acquisition of Tomahawk Land-Attack Missiles (TLAM), Trident II/D5 ballistic missiles, the Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW), the Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), and advanced models of the Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo, as well as the development of advanced Standard Missiles for area- and theater-wide ballistic missile defense, next-generation naval fire support missiles and guided projectiles.