Seapower - May 2009

Congressional Research Service.

Instead, the defense secretary trimmed around the edges — such as delaying the CVN 79 Ford-class aircraft carrier by one year, from 2012 to 2013, and deferring the 11th LPD 17 amphibious transport ship and the Mobile Landing Platform, from 2010 to 2011

Gates also wants to delay the CG(X) cruiser, a move that would give the service more time to design the ship and mature its radar technology. The Navy had planned to make the DDG 1000 the basis for the cruiser’s design.

In particular, Gates said, the Navy needs to revisit “both the requirements and the acquisition strategy” for the next-generation cruiser.

“The healthy margin of dominance at sea provided by America’s existing battle fleet makes it possible and prudent to slow production of several major surface combatants and other maritime programs,” Gates told reporters when announcing his decisions April 6.

But the Navy and Marine Corps programs will likely get a closer look in the upcoming Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), which Gates has said will review amphibious capabilities.

It appears programs such as the LPD 17 and the Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, which has a troubled acquisition history of its own, will be subject to close examination during the months-long review.

“I want the QDR to examine, as we look at the 21st century, how much amphibious capability do we need?” Gates told reporters during a roundtable discussion April 7. “And I don’t know the answer to that. We need it, but how much do we need?”

Gates said the LPD 17 and Mobile Landing Platform, in particular, were among a “number of issues … that I didn’t feel I had enough analysis and understand-

INTERCEPTS

“Wherever the police are, the robbers will go somewhere else.”

Peter Chalk

An expert on maritime national security at Rand Corp.

On the difficulty of quelling piracy in the waters off Somalia’s nearly 2,500-mile- long coast.

Associated Press

“We got the captain back, which is the outcome we wanted to see happen, his safe and secure return. Regrettably, three pirates made a choice that ended in the loss of their lives. One did not and is in our custody and will, of course, be treated responsibly and held responsible.”

Adm. Greg Smith

Director of Communications, U.S. Central Command

On the U.S. Navy’s rescue of Maersk Alabama Capt. Richard Phillips after he had been held by Somali pirates for five days off the Horn of Africa. Los Angeles Times

ing to make decisions, and so I delayed programs.”

One of Gates’ decisions for next year that still needs some clarity, however, is the future of the F/A- 18s. The Navy had planned to buy 22 EA-18G Growlers and 18 F/A- 18E/F Super Hornets next year.

During his budget announcement, Gates said he planned to buy 31 F/A-18s next year, but did not specify what mix of the aircraft he intended to procure. Navy officials could not provide more details.

One industry official said the mix was 22 EA-18Gs, eight F/A- 18Es and one F/A-18F. The total of 31 represents a reduction of nine from the 40 planned by the Navy for 2010.

This “does nothing to solve the fighter shortage,” said the source, who said the Navy and Marine Corps were heading for a shortage of up to 240 strike fighters by the 2015-2017 timeframe.

The Obama administration is expected to send its detailed 2010 budget request to Capitol Hill this month.

Gates Recommends
Destroyer Compromise

In a move that makes his plans to curtail the DDG 1000 destroyer program more palatable on Capitol Hill, Gates has said he wants to build all three of the hulls at General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works in Maine.

The DDG 1000, like the older DDG 51, was to be built both at Bath and at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula, Miss.

House Armed Services seapower subcommittee Chairman Gene Taylor, D-Miss., whose district includes Pascagoula, has long backed efforts to end the DDG 1000 and buy more DDG 51s.

Maine lawmakers, on the other hand, have adamantly opposed cutting back DDG 1000 procurement, arguing that doing so would devastate the Bath facility and its employees. But, given the chance to build three of the ships, the Maine delegation quickly changed its tune.