Admiral Hyman G. Rickover - Father of the Nuclear Navy
Posted on 01/07/2017 12:36:27 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Defense intends to move forward with its $126 billion plan to procure 12 new nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy.
Under the plan, the Navy's existing Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines will be replaced by the developing Columbia-class submarines at an estimated cost of roughly $8 billion per ship. Pentagon acquisition undersecretary Frank Kendall voiced his approval during a recent interview with Bloomberg.
"I'm hoping to have it done before I leave," Kendall said, noting his job ends when President Barack Obama leaves office on Jan. 20.
President Obama has supported the Columbia-class program during his time in office, and President-elect Donald Trump is expected to continue the effort after his inauguration.
"The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," Trump wrote on Twitter.
The Pentagon's green light on the planned procurement comes in the wake of skepticism regarding high-cost military projects. Kendall addressed those concerns in a memo following his interview.
"It is clear that significant achievements have been made to control current and future costs," he said. "Despite tight schedule margins that leave little room for future issues, there are adequate plans in place to manage this risk."
With the Defense Department's support, the Columbia-class program is allowed to enter full development under Milestone B. USNI News reports defense officials are in talks with General Dynamics Electric Boat to finalize contract details.
Haven’t begun construction yet and not due until 2028 or something like that
Let’s see, 12 subs times $8B per, comes out to $96B. The plan is $126B, a difference of $30B. Maybe Trump can ask questions and get that whittled down a wee bit to make sense.
It’s probably for the maintenance contract or some such.
Boondoggle on boomers.
What do you get for $8 bill? Gold plated Trump columns? More floors? Your own 757?
Construction will start in 2018. They already have begun part procurement.
Part of that 30B is inflation, and maintenance. Would not be surprising that most of the remainder goes for 4 off the books subs although I have no idea how you could physically hide the construction of something so big.
Also think it is interesting that we seem able to build subs that are expensive but work right off the bat, while unable to build surface ships (LCS) or jets (F-35) that are even close to functional without years of refits, delays, redesigns, etc.
The Sea Wolf didn’t work off the bat and the Virginia’s had teething issues.
Yes the Ohio class are 40 years old and near the end of their service lives.
It's for the extras. State and local taxes, title, dealer prep, extended warrantee, pin-stripes, floor mats, that sort of thing.
Research.
Admiral Hyman G. Rickover - Father of the Nuclear Navy
How about both? How about decreasing spending on the useless tripe that live in our country?
Yes but nothing like what’s going on with the LCS and F-35 programs.
Probably get a good deal on custom floor mats from Weather Tech.
Well both of these were Fast Attack types and what happened to the Sea Wolf was a change in mission, not that it didn't work per se.
The missile boat fleet (boomers) is in need of upgrade. These boats a rode hard and put up wet and need replacement. Their mission hasn't changed.
The USN needs a mix of diesel and nuke boats. They will never learn it seamms.
“Maybe Trump can ask questions and get that whittled down a wee bit to make sense.”
One reason he wants this done before he leaves is military contracts are chocked full of plumbs for various agendas. The greenies, the LGBT crowd, special interest groups, all get a chunk of “business.” That chunk is not small change.
If the contracts are not let by the time Trump takes over then all this carefully negotiated special interest money may either go to the “wrong” people or get eliminated.
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