Sub cost must continue to fall, admiral says

[unhappycamper]

http://articles.dailypress.com/2012-10-19/business/dp-nws-shipyard-ohio-replacement-20121019_1_virginia-class-program-subs-replacement




Sub cost must continue to fall, admiral says
October 19, 2012|By Michael Welles Shapiro

FALLS CHURCH — — The Navy admiral overseeing submarine construction said Thursday that if the price tag for building the newest vessels remains where it is today, there will have to be cutbacks to the Virginia-class program.

Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat, along with the Navy, have already brought down the cost to build Virginia-class fast-attack subs and are in the process of doubling their production, from one sub a year to two.

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"I don't think we get Virginia and Ohio replacement at the same time if we don't continue to press down on the cost of Virginia and keep pressing on the cost of Ohio replacement," said Rear Adm. David Johnson, who spoke to reporters at the Naval Submarine League's annual symposium just outside of Washington, D.C.

~snip~

The boats, called Boomers or Tridents because of the missiles they carry, have a 42-year lifespan and are scheduled to start retiring at a rate of one per year starting in 2027. They are the larger and pricier cousin of the Virginia-class, and the Navy has a cost target of $4.9 billion for each of the 12 replacement subs it plans to buy.