DD-X Decision Possibly Friday
In the coming few days, the U.S. Navy is suposed to award a corporate team to design the DD-X, the lead ship in a new family of smaller U.S.warships. "We still intend to make the down-select decision by the end of April," said Navy spokesman Lt. Bill Speaks, in a published wire report. Some indications point to this Friday for the announcement. The DD-X program, which effectively replaced the scuttled DD-21 program last Fall, is much anticipated in defense circles as it represents the biggest contract opportunity in a much slimmed defense shipbuilding buying program. Speaks said the decision "could come any day," but declined to confirm an announcement would be made on Friday. Rival teams led by General Dynamics Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp.
U.S. Navy To Benefit From U.S. Lines’ Demise?
In an effort to utilize the now defunct U.S. Lines cruise ships, Congress has recommended that the U.S. Navy purchase the vessels, for possible use as replacement Joint Command Ships. The two 1,900-passenger vessels, which were to have been delivered in 2003, at a price of $440 million each, were on their way to becoming “an American dream.” With the first vessel approximately 55 percent complete, the second vessel was about to have its keel laid. And according to Northrop Grumman Litton Ingalls, the company who was to build these ships, more than 90 percent of material had already been committed. An added blow occurred a few days after AMCV had filed bankruptcy…
