Page 29: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 1988)

Exhibit 4—FY 1988 Program for Navy RDT&E ($ In millions)

Budget Request Authorization Appropriations

Basic technology $ 841 $ 749 $ 750

Advanced technology devel. 258 258 227

Strategic programs 1,370 1,310 1,257

Tactical programs 6,130 5,904 5,662

Intelligence & communications 1,128 971 907

Defensewide mission support 763 703 748

Conventional defense initiative 0 51 30

Budget Adjustments 0 0 (86)

Total Budget $10,490 $9,946 $9,495 dent is cited as an example of exist- ing deficiencies. Among items di- rected to be procured are additional oxygen breathing apparatus and their canisters, thermal imagers, wire-free damage control communi- cations, smoke curtains, exothermic cutters, helmet lights, firefighter overboots, high-capacity fans, and non-sparking mechanical emergen- cy extraction equipment.

Seasheds

An additional $12 million was (continued) Source: Defense Authorization and Appropriations Bills

Meanwhile, the Navy has been directed to qualify a second source for the MHC program in FY 1988.

Intermarine is the current contrac- tor. The original plan had been to delay second source qualification until FY 1989.

Army Tugboats

The Congress refused to appro- priate new funds for procuring

Army tugboats in FY 1988. A report was requested from DOD assessing the alternatives for manning and operating these tugboats. Among the options is transfer of the mission to the Military Sealift Command.

Fast Sealift Initiative

Navy has been directed to survey the international shipping market to determine whether used ships are available which could be purchased and converted similar to the SL-7 program. If no such ships are avail- able, Navy is directed to begin de- sign of a new ship capable of sus- tained speeds exceeding 30 knots.

Surface effect technology is among the design options to be explored.

High Speed Patrol Boats

Congressional authorizers have recommended that Navy evaluate a new high speed assault and missile boat.

WEAPONS &

OTHER PROCUREMENT

Funding for weapons and other procurement was set at a slightly lower level than requested. The

Navy asked for $11.5 billion for these programs. Congress appro- priated $10.8 billion. Details are shown in Exhibits 2 and 3.

Small Submersible

Navy was given $15 million to purchase a small submersible in or- der to assess its performance as an advanced swimmer delivery system.

Ship Survival Systems

MSC received approval to spend $10 million in FY 1988 to procure

U.S. built, totally enclosed survival systems. These state-of-the-art en- closed lifeboats will be fitted aboard

T-ships in the MSC fleet.

MK 50 Torpedo

Navy asked for $222 million to buy 153 MK 50 Advanced Light- weight Torpedoes in FY 1988. There have been technical problems in this program and Congress limited pro- curement to 16 units. GAO has been directed to perform a cost effective- ness study of breaking out the MK- 50 afterbody. Honeywell and West- inghouse are contractors for MK 50 manufacture.

Ship Survivability Initiative

Congressional authorizers di- rected Navy to initiate actions to improve ability to fight fires in com- bat damaged ships. The Stark inci-

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