Page 11: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 1986)

Three years ago Navy proposed 145 ships over the live-year planning period.

Aegis Program Stretched

Navy now proposes to build a total of five Aegis surface combat- ants in each of the next five years.

Last year's plan called for a total of five Aegis cruisers/destroyers in FY 1987, eight in FY 1988, seven in FY 1989 and five thereafter until an

Aegis force of 56 ships is completed.

This program stretchout will extend both the CG and DDG programs one year.

Ingalls and Bath are now building

Aegis ships and Todd-LA hopes to become involved in the Aegis de- stroyer program. Reduction in num- ber of DDG's in 1988-90 will be three each year instead of five.

Attack Submarine Program

Stretched

An SSN previously scheduled for

FY 1988 has been moved to FY 1989. The FY 1988 program will now be three attack submarines in- stead of four, and three instead of two SSN's are now in the FY 1989 program. Newport News and GD-

Electric Boat share in the SSN con- struction program.

Oceanographic Research

Ship Added To Program

The first of a class of oceanograph- ic research ships (AGX/AGOR) is scheduled for FY 1987 funding. Five additional ships are scheduled for

FY 1990/1991. This ship had not been included in previous five-year plans.

Other Programs Stretched

Or Cut

Support ship and amphibious shipbuilding and conversion plans have been significantly modified: • the repair ship (AR) program previously scheduled to begin in FY 1990 has been moved to FY 1991 • an ammunition ship (AE) scheduled for FY 1989 has been moved into FY 1990 • the two floating drydocks (AFDM) in the previous five-year plan have been dropped • a fast combat support ship pre- viously scheduled for FY 1988 has been dropped • the LSD 41 (cargo variant) pro- gram has been stretched—with one instead of two ships scheduled start- ing FY 1988; Avondale and Lock- heed are building LSD 41's • service life extension of the

LPD amphibious transports is now scheduled to start in FY 1989 in- stead of FY 1988 • the fourth ship in the LHD pro- gram has been shifted from FY 1990 to FY 1991; Ingalls is building the lead LHD and other yards are inter- ested in entering this program

Also stretched is the completion

March, 1986 of the minecountermeasure (MCM) program. A one-year hiatus has been scheduled in FY 1987, with program completion now planned to be funded in FY 1988. Peterson and

Marinette Marine are building

MCM's.

Another casualty of the program reduction is the air cushion landing craft (LCAC). No LCAC's are now proposed for FY 1987 and nine instead of 12 LCAC's annually are scheduled in the remaining years in the five-year plan.

More Ocean Surveillance

Ships (TAGOS) Planned

Last year's five-year plan called for funding two TAGOS ships in FY 1987 to complete the program. Now 10 TAGOS ships are planned be- tween FY 1987-1990. Presumably these will be SWATH design ships.

Fleet Oiler (AO)

Lengthening Moved Up

One Year

Navy had planned to begin (continued)

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