LCS, DDG 1000s, and LPDs

[unhappycamper]

Just thought I would take a few minutes of your time to set the record straight on the costs of these new ships.

I have been confusing LCS and DDG 1000 costs.


LCS

The LCS was originally estimated to cost around $233 million a pop. In September 2007, the Navy admitted that the going price was $400 million a pop. In February 2008, the Navy admitted ”the final tab to deliver the ships is well over $600 million apiece”.

The Navy wants to build http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=13029">55 Littoral Combat Ships. At $600 million each, that’s 33,000,000,000. And we wonder why the 2009 US military budget is almost a trillion dollars.


DDG 1000

The DDG 1000 destroyer costs $5,300,000,000+; $10,300,000,000 if you include development costs.


LPD

LPDs are another interesting breed. According to Defense Industry Daily:

Replacing that many existing ships is already a very tall order. While its design incorporates notable advances, the San Antonio Class has also had its share of teething problems. So, too, has the New Orleans shipyard to which most of this contract has been assigned. Teething issues are not uncommon in new ship classes, but the number of serious issues encountered in this ship class have been higher than usual. The initial ships have been criticized for sub-standard workmanship, and costs are almost twice the originally promised amounts at over $1.5 billion per ship.

Hey, these are only $1.5 billion a copy.



And as an added bonus --> the $536,000,000 National Security cutter.


Any bets on how long this is going to continue?

[Angleae]

1. How long this is going to continue?

Until they put their foot down on contractors and go back to fixed-bid contracts, it will never stop.