Navy Ship Acquisition in the FY2005 Budget: Oversight Issues for Congress

Publication Date: May 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Military and defense

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Abstract:

This report discusses potential oversight issues for Congress concerning Navy ship-acquisition programs in the Administration's proposed FY2005 defense budget and FY2005-FY2009 Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP).

Overall Navy Force-Structure Planning: The current lack of an officially approved, consensus plan for the future size and structure of the Navy may make it difficult, if not impossible, for Congress to "close the oversight loop" by reconciling desired Navy capabilities with planned Navy force structure, and planned Navy force structure with supporting Navy ship-acquisition programs and budgets.

Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: There appears to be no officially approved force-structure plan at present that includes force-structure slots for any significant number of LCSs. Prior to announcing the LCS program in November 2001, the Navy apparently did not conduct a formal Analysis of Multiple Concepts to demonstrate that a ship like the LCS was the best or most promising way to perform the LCS's missions. The Navy's plan to fund LCS mission modules through the Other Procurement, Navy appropriation account might complicate congressional oversight of the program. Skeptics might ask whether the LCS's rapid acquisition schedule is driven less by operational urgency than by other considerations.

Virginia-class Submarine Program: Supporters of the Virginia-class program are concerned that the Navy may be seeking to reduce the attack submarine forcelevel goal so as to limit Virginia-class procurement and transfer funding to surface programs such as the DD(X) and LCS. Although congressional action last year may effectively prohibit the Navy from requesting funding for a second Virginia-class boat in FY2007 or FY2008, it does not necessarily prevent a future Congress from funding a second boat in either year, if a future Congress wants to do so.

Amphibious and Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) Ships: The current DOD study on forcible entry options and the new sea basing concept could reduce projected numbers of amphibious ships while increasing projected numbers of new MPF-type ships. Navy officials have not indicated what mix of amphibious and MPF-type ships they see emerging. This report will be updated as events warrant.