U.S. Capitol on May 15, 2014. Architect of the Capitol Photo
The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee introduced a continuing resolution today that would fund the government through April 28, 2017, at last fiscal year’s spending levels – with several critical exceptions, among them a provision that would allow work to continue uninterrupted on designing the Ohio Replacement Program ballistic missile submarines. Read More
Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) in the lobby of Trump Tower on Monday. C-SPAN Image
Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), the frontrunner to serve as the next Navy secretary, was seen at Trump Tower in New York on Monday, just days after the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee sent a letter to the Trump administration endorsing Forbes for SECNAV. Read More
The following is a Dec. 1, 2016 letter from Rep Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) to Vice President-elect Mike Pence endorsing Rep Randy Forbes for Navy secretary. Read More
Workers stand pose for a photo in the four-tube “quad-pack” built for the U.S. Ohio Replacement-class and U.K. Successor-class. General Dynamics Electric Boat Photo via US Navy
The Navy could cut Ohio Replacement Program (ORP) missile tube acquisition costs by 25 percent if Congress granted a “continuous production” authority that would allow the U.S. and UK ballistic missile submarine replacement programs buy the tubes at a steady pace, according to a recent report obtained by USNI News. Read More
The Virginia-class attack submarine Pre-commissioning unit John Warner (SSN 785) is moved to Newport News Shipbuilding’s floating dry dock on Sept. 1, 2014. Huntington Ingalls Industries photo.
The Navy released a Submarine Unified Build Strategy (SUBS) for concurrent Ohio Replacement ballistic missile submarine and Virginia Class attack submarine production through at least 2023, with the plan calling for Newport News Shipbuilding taking on additional responsibilities with the Virginia class to help General Dynamics Electric Boat more efficiently deliver the new class of boomers, service officials told USNI News on Monday. Read More
The Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition has asked lawmakers for “design for affordability” research and development dollars to reduce the cost of building carriers and for advance procurement funding for a block buy of CVN-80 and 81 materials. Read More
North Dakota (SSN 784) sits moored at the graving dock of General Dynamics Electric Boat prior to its christening ceremony in Groton, Conn. on Nov. 2, 2013. US Navy Photo
A spike in demand for the Navy’s attacks submarines, just ahead of a spate of decommissionings and a dip in new SSN construction, is leading the Navy to look at some previously unthinkable measures to mitigate the upcoming shortfall in the fleet. Read More
USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN-730) arrives home at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor following a strategic deterrent patrol on May 5, 2015. US Navy Photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A fund established last year to break out the Ohio-class Replacement nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) from the Navy’s traditional shipbuilding budget could cut the $100 billion price tag for the 12 boomers by up to 10 percent, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. Read More
An undated artist’s rendering of the Ohio Replacement. Naval Sea Systems Command Image
A House Armed Services Committee member said lawmakers are already working to properly fund the upcoming Ohio Replacement Program (ORP) ballistic missile submarine but have not received sufficient feedback from the Pentagon. Read More
The ballistic-missile submarine USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) transits home after completing a strategic deterrence patrol in October 2014. US Navy photo.
The Navy needs about $100 billion to buy its upcoming class of ballistic missile submarines. And it needs a lot of support from Congress to secure that funding.
In the world of politics, where change is the only constant – where support for various departments goes in and out of style – finding long-term stability for something as big as the Ohio Replacement Program (ORP) submarines is vital to its success.
This week, the House may have achieved that stability. Read More
