Navy Aircraft Carriers Have Political Backing, But Face Financial Peril

摘要

The defense policy legislation Congress passed this month firmly backs the Navy's goal to operate a fleet of 11 aircraft carriers. But that mandate might not be enough to keep the carrier fleet from shrinking as the cost of new ships rises and the Navy's budget gets squeezed. To ensure the fleet stays at 11 carriers, the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act supports the refueling and complex overhaul of the USS George Wash- ington (CVN 73) in 2017. Congress appropriated $483.6 million to begin work on the George Washington's modernization. But the refueling of the George Washington still might not avert future cuts to the size of the carrier fleet. Recent estimates from congressional auditors and budget experts continue to raise doubts about the financial viability of an 11 -carrier force. The ability to keep the fleet at its current size over the coming decade rests on budget decisions to fund future ships, and also on whether the Navy can complete the acquisition of its new Ford-class carriers without busting congressionally mandated cost caps. A contentious debate over the cost of the Ford class will be on the agenda this year as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is one of the program's staunchest critics.