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Navy Budget News

16 Sep 2021

Prefabrication of Federal Shipbuilding Project Funding

Fincantieri Marinette Marine is building the U.S. Navy’s Constellation class frigates (Image: U.S. Navy)

Initial appropriations discussions are underway for Fiscal Year 2022, with a continued focus on federal shipbuilding programs. It has been rough going for the Navy as Congress raised questions about the President’s commitment to the Navy’s long-term shipbuilding program. Meanwhile, House appropriators are seemingly focused on continuing shipbuilding successes at the Maritime Administration and Coast Guard. With billions of dollars in the balance, the U.S. shipbuilding industry…

20 Jul 2021

Shipbuilding and The Navy Of Tomorrow

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt transits the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 1, 2021. U.S. Navy Photoby Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Wade

In the United States, it is a frustrating time to be in the government shipbuilding business. Even though America depends upon maritime commerce and faces growing security risks at sea, shipbuilding is just not a major national focus.Up to now, shipbuilders have had it pretty good. For the past several years, big naval shipbuilders have enjoyed steady growth and strong performance. In 2020, Huntington Ingalls Industries enjoyed record revenue of $9.4 billion, an 8.5% margin and gave a quarter billion back to shareholders in dividends and stock buybacks.

22 Mar 2017

Trump's Navy: A Look at the Future US Navy

President Donald J. Trump speaks with Sailors in the hangar bay aboard Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Trump visited to meet with Sailors and shipbuilders of the Navy’s first-in-class aircraft carrier during an all-hands call inside the ship’s hangar bay. (U.S. Navy photo by Joshua Sheppard)

It’s still too early to know for certain what the new administration will do about building up the U.S. Navy, as the numbers are a moving target. But with President Trump’s recent pledge to add $54 billion to defense spending, it’s a safe bet to make that the fleet will grow. So let’s start with the numbers. There are different ways to count the fleet size, including whether or not you count auxiliaries, but let’s use this number as the baseline: There are 274 ships in the U.S. Navy now.

20 Dec 2016

US Naval Secretary Calls for 355-ship Fleet

Ray Mabus (Photo: U.S. Navy)

In announcing the results of the 2016 Force Structure Assessment (FSA), U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus recommended a 355-ship fleet, including 12 carriers, 104 large surface combatants, 52 small surface combatants, 38 amphibious ships and 66 submarines. The FSA is a year-long effort which began in January that was conducted to evaluate long-term defense security requirements for future naval forces today at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. Mabus’ assessment will be one input to the Navy's FY-2018 30-year shipbuilding plan.

03 Feb 2016

Pentagon Chief Unveils Plans to Buy More High-end Ships

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter (Photo: U.S. Department of Defense)

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Wednesday mapped out plans for the U.S. Navy to buy more high-end submarines, destroyers, fighter jets and unmanned underwater vehicles using $8 billion in savings generated by scaling back orders for smaller Littoral Combat Ships. Carter said the Pentagon's five-year budget plan also included $2.9 billion to modify Raytheon Co's SM-6 missiles for use as powerful anti-ship weapons, and buy 625 more of the weapons, which are now used for missile defense.

27 Jan 2016

SUPSALV & Finding El Faro

Captain Gregg W. Baumann discusses with CBS ‘60 Minutes’ anchor Scott Pelley  the technology to be deployed in the search for El Faro. The feature El Faro spot aired on CBS on Sunday, January 3, 2016.  If you missed it, view the 60 Minutes video here:http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/lost-in-the-bermuda-triangle  (Courtesy of U.S. Navy/CBS ‘60 Minutes’)

Last month we were offered an in-depth discussion on marine salvage with Captain Gregg W. Baumann, U.S. Navy, Director of Ocean Engineering, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving. Captain Baumann and his team have a long history regarding difficult missions accomplished, including most recently the location and filming of the lost TOTE containership El Faro. What is the scope of the responsibility of the Supervisor of Salvage & Diving; Director of Ocean Engineering? The responsibilities of the Supervisor of Salvage & Diving…

22 Jul 2015

CNO Puts Warfighting First in Navy’s Five-year Plan

CNO Adm. Greenert holds an all-hands call with service members, civilians and their families at Naval Support Activity Bahrain where he discussed the current status of the Navy and presented U.S. Naval Forces Central Command with the Navy Unit Commendation for meritorious service in the performance of assigned missions from June 2010 to June 2015. (US Navy photo by Nathan Laird)

U.S. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert on Monday highlighted the U.S. Navy's intended track and investments in a document that outlines the Navy’s navigational plan for the next five years. "This year's navigation plan highlights our Navy's key investments, which support missions and functions outlined in the defense strategic guidance (DSG)," said Greenert in the document released Monday. Greenert's 2016-2020 Navigation Plan, released to the Navy's senior leaders and distributed on the its social media properties…

06 Jan 2015

Full Steam Ahead for Navy's Science

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has begun a new era, as Rear Adm. Mathias W. Winter-a decorated aviator with advanced degrees in both computer science and national resource strategy-was sworn in as the chief of naval research (CNR). Winter officially took the helm of ONR, the organization that leads Navy and Marine Corps research efforts, during a change-of-command held on Dec. 30. The ceremony was held at the Pentagon and officiated by the Honorable Sean Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy (research, development and acquisition). "As the next Chief of Naval Research, I look forward to leading the ONR team in stretching the limits of physics and discovering the next generation of breakthrough technologies to ensure a dominant…

21 Aug 2014

Navy CNO Sets Out Annual 'Navigation Plan'

The Navy's top leader has released a detailed plan that highlights the U.S. Navy's intended track and investments for the next 5 fiscal years, informs Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert's 2015-2019 Navigation Plan defines how the Navy will use its resources to safely and effectively pursue the vision detailed in Sailing Directions. "This navigation plan defines the course and speed we will follow to organize, train and equip our Navy over the next several years," said Greenert in the document. "Crafting this year's budget included tough choices across a wide range of competing priorities - we focused first on building appropriate capability, then delivering it at a capacity we could afford," said Greenert.

19 Jun 2014

US Navy Build Programs Face Budget Pressure

(U.S. Navy photo by Shelby F. W. West/Released)

Ship construction programs move ahead, but it’s not smooth sailing. Navies and Coast Guards everywhere face budgetary pressure, even in the U.S. which has the largest Navy in the world. The balance between desire for capacity and capability and pressure for affordability has never been more acute with the precarious budgetary issues presented by declining defense budgets, sequestration, continuing resolutions and government shutdowns. Even so, there are ongoing major construction efforts to include large nuclear aircraft carriers and submarines…

22 Aug 2013

CNO Sets Out Fleet Navigation Plan

CNO Adm. Jonathan Greenert on ship visit: Photo credit USN

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert, charts the course for the US Navy 2014 – 2018. The CNO explains that Sailing Directions assist mariners in planning a long voyage by describing the destination, providing guidance on which routes to take, and identifying the conditions, cautions, and aids to navigation along the way. CNO’s Sailing Directions likewise provide a vision, tenets, and principles to guide our Navy as we chart a course to remain ready to meet current challenges…

08 Aug 2013

No Leeway in Navy Budget to Repair USS Miami

USS Miami: Photo credit USN

'USS Miami' was set ablaze by an arsonist in May 2012: a comprehensive assessment of the extensive fire damage, found that the submarine is fully repairable from a technical perspective, but budget funds are insufficient. Excerpts from comments by Rear Adm. "Under the financial constraints imposed by sequestration, we simply cannot afford to undertake the repairs. Sequestration effects this past year (work force limitations) coupled with the increased scope of work have combined to raise the estimated cost of repairs from $450M to $700M.

29 Apr 2013

Chief of Naval Operations Testifies on FY14 Budget Priorities

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the Department of the Navy defense authorization request for fiscal year 2014. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter D. Lawlor/Released)

The Chief of Naval Operations, Secretary of the Navy, and Commandant of the Marine Corps testified together April 25 before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) on the Department of the Navy budget request for fiscal year 2014. The three naval leader's testimony emphasized the realities of sequestration restraints on the fiscal year 2014 defense budget presented to congress earlier this month. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert delivered an opening…

26 Jun 2012

U.S. Navy Treading Water on Shipbuilding

CNO Adm. Jonathan Greenert talks to tidewater area Sailors during an all-hands call aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter D. Lawlor/Released)

Fleet, Force put Warfighting First: U.S. At the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, and with a new Chief of Operations at the helm, the U.S. Navy continues to provide credible combat power with persistent presence around the world. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert has set forth his “Sailing Directions” and “Navigation Plan” for the Navy, which sets forth priorities and informs the budget and acquisition process. Meanwhile, the demand signal for the capabilities provided by the Navy and Marine Corps remains strong, and shows no signs of abating.

05 Apr 2012

Huntington Risks Losing $194 Million on Carrier’s Overrun

Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. stands to loss as much as $194.3 million, more than 40 percent of its potential fee, under the Navy’s latest estimate of overruns for the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, according to Bloomberg. Construction of the Ford, the Navy’s most expensive warship, is likely to exceed by $884 million the shipbuilder’s target contract cost of about $5.2 billion for detailed design and construction, according to Navy officials and the service’s Selected Acquisition Report, obtained after it was delivered to Congress on March 29. The Ford is intended to be the first in a $40 billion, three-ship class of carriers. Its rising costs have brought questions from Republican Senator John McCain about the Navy program and the shipbuilder’s performance.

16 Mar 2012

Navy Doubles Minesweeper Presence in Persian Gulf

Minehunting: Photo credit USN

Four more minesweepers and four more minesweeping helicopters are to be sent to the Persian Gulf, a move which will increase the number of mine countermeasure forces available to keep open the sea lanes around the Strait of Hormuz should Iran choose to mine that critical waterway. “We are moving four more minesweepers to the region, making eight,” Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations (CNO), told the U.S. Senate Armed Services committee during a Navy budget hearing.

14 Feb 2012

DoD FY '13 Budget Proposal: $13B/Year in Shipbuilding

President Barack Obama sent Congress a proposed defense budget of $613.9 billion for fiscal 2013, Feb. 13. The request for the Department of Defense (DoD) includes $525.4 billion in discretionary budget authority to fund base defense programs and $88.5 billion to support Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), primarily in Afghanistan. Of the discretionary budget, $155.9 billion represents the Department of the Navy's budget request. This is a decrease of $1.4 billion from last year's baseline appropriation. Rear Adm.

15 Feb 2011

Department of Navy Announces FY12 Budget

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Budget, Rear Adm. Joe Mulloy, briefed the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of the Navy budget roll-out at the Pentagon, Feb. 14. "The FY12 budget request reflects the Navy's continued commitment to Sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families," said Mulloy. "It reaffirms the valuable contribution our assets make across the full spectrum of warfare and increases the capability of our fleet. While military pay will increase 1.6 percent, additionally, reenlistment bonuses for key rates are being maintained, and selective reenlistment bonuses are being offered. President Barack Obama's budget for Fiscal Year 2012 was submitted to Congress Feb.

15 Feb 2011

Navy Budget Adds Five Ships to Plan

According to a Feb. 14 report from Bloomberg, the U.S. Navy has added five ships to its six-year shipbuilding plan, proposing to spend $74.7 billion for 55 ships through fiscal 2016, according to the fiscal 2012 budget. The plan, aimed at sustaining a 313-ship fleet, would add a DDG-51 destroyer, built by Northrop Grumman Corp., in fiscal 2014.   (Source: Bloomberg)

10 Dec 2001

Builders Prepare To Shape The New Navy

The team of General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin said they strongly support the U.S. Navy's plan for the next generation of surface combatant ships referred to as DD(X). The Blue Team has developed technologies relevant to the DD(X) requirement and is preparing its response to the Navy's request for proposal (RFP). DD(X) will be a technology engine that will drive a family of combatants to transform the Navy. The Navy will use the advanced technology and networking capabilities from DD(X) in the development of both the future cruiser, CG(X), and the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). This strategy will provide a road map for the future Navy and a broader strategic framework within which transformation will occur.

17 Aug 2004

US Navy: Fewer Ships and No funds for DD-X?

The U.S. Navy proposes to build four new ships in 2006, with no funding earmarked for the new DD-X destroyer being designed by Northrop Grumman Corp., Reuters reported. It appears that rising fuel costs, health care costs and Iraq war costs have effectively conspired to sap the navy budget. According to Reuters, it calls for the Navy to spend $6 billion in 2006 to build one of the two Northrop LPD-17 amphibious assault ships initially planned; one Littoral Combat Ship; one T-AKE logistic ship and one nuclear-powered Virginia-class attack submarine, both built by General Dynamics Corp. The Navy proposal, being evaluated by officials drafting the overall Pentagon budget…

29 Feb 2008

AVSEA Engineering for Reduced Maintenance

2007 was another successful year for the Naval Sea Systems Command’s (NAVSEA) Engineering for Reduced Maintenance (EFRM) team, with the warfighter-focused program making great strides in reducing shipboard maintenance burdens. Working under NAVSEA’s Naval Systems Engineering Directorate, the EFRM team seeks to streamline costly and time-consuming maintenance procedures in the Fleet. At January’s Surface Navy Symposium, NAVSEA Commander, Vice Adm. Paul E. Sullivan, talked about the importance maintenance plays in achieving NAVSEA’s mission. “We can’t just build the new ships we need for the 313-ship Navy and go home,” said Sullivan. Whether reducing significant Fleet maintenance costs…

16 Jul 2008

US Navy Working to Lower Ships’ Fuel Costs

The rewards reaped from the Navy's Energy Conservation (ENCON) Program save millions in fuel costs, while keeping ships at sea to support the nation's Maritime Strategy. ENCON includes two major energy conservation and management programs spearheaded by Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in One is the Incentivized Energy Conservation (i-ENCON) Program; the other is the Fleet Readiness, Research and Development Program (FRR&DP). According to i-ENCON Program Manager Hasan Pehlivan, the programs are projected to save more than 1.14 million barrels of oil in 2008, enough to fill four million 12-gallon car gas tanks, resulting in a record cost avoidance of more than $157 million.