“More power to him for noticing
the carbuncle on the rear end of the
horse headed north,” said Winslow
Wheeler, a former Senate Budget
Committee staffer who now is an
analyst at the Center for Defense
Information in Washington.
It was unclear at press time May
14 what appropriators in the House
or Senate would decide on funding
for the DDG 1000 program. Neither
the House nor Senate Appropriations defense subcommittees had
marked up their bills.
The defense authorization bill
sets policy and recommends funding
levels. But appropriators, who actually allot the money, have a long history of listening to their colleagues
on the Armed Services committees.
And House Appropriations defense subcommittee Chairman John
Murtha, D-Pa., has long agreed with
Taylor on the need for additional
ships and has signaled once again
this year that he intends to add
more vessels to the Navy’s 2009
accounts, including an LPD 17 and
two T-AKEs.
During a hearing earlier this
year, Murtha said he may make the
third DDG 1000 a bill payer for
those other ships.
Super Hornet maker Boeing has
been pushing Congress to include
permissive language in the annual
authorization measure that would
allow the Navy to begin another
multiyear contract on the Super
Hornets, to begin in fiscal 2010
and last through 2013.
The Navy already plans to buy 89
Super Hornets through the traditional procurement process after the current multiyear contract expires. But
Boeing has given the Navy an unsolicited offer for 170 aircraft at $49.9
million apiece, which amounts to
between 7 percent and 10 percent
cost savings.
Boeing officials have said that
Congress’ approval of the multiyear is not necessary this year. But
they have stressed that doing so
would allow the Navy and Boeing
to maximize savings.
Allen Is First USCG
Winner of NDIA Award
Coast Guard Commandant Adm.
Thad Allen was named the National
Defense Industrial Association’s
(NDIA’s) 2008 Dwight D. Eisenhower award winner in April. It
marked the first time a member of
the service had won the honor since
its inception in 1979.
“I accept this award not on my
own behalf, but in recognition of
the thousands of dedicated Coast
Guard men and women who guard
our coasts. They inspire and motivate me in all that I do each and
every day to lead this great organization,” Allen told Seapower.
He was presented with the award
during NDIA’s Annual Dinner on
April 16.
“In the past year, we’ve seen
incredible progress … with our partners in the Department of Homeland Security and Department of
Defense to build upon our past successes while modernizing our ships,
boats and aircraft. Together, we
make a significant impact on the
safety, security and prosperity of all
Americans,” Allen said.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower
Award is NDIA’s most prestigious
award and is accompanied by the
Eisenhower Medal. The award and
medal recognize leadership and
strategic impact at the highest levels of national security.
Senate Panel Assesses
Extending F/A-18E/F Buy
The Senate Armed Services Committee wants the Defense Department to seriously consider beginning a third multiyear contract for
F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, but fell
short of actually green-lighting
another extended contract for
more of the aircraft.
In its markup of the defense
authorization bill, the committee
included report language encouraging the department to review the
issue as a potential solution to the
Navy’s anticipated strike fighter
shortfall that is expected to peak at
69 aircraft in 2017 and last until the
F-35C Lightning II comes fully
online in 2025.
LISA NIPP
Adm. Thad Allen, Coast Guard commandant, here speaking during the “Sea Power
& America’s Security” panel at the Sea-Air-Space Exposition in March, is the first
Coast Guardsman to receive the NDIA’s Dwight D. Eisenhower Award.
