Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress Ronald O'Rourke Specialist in Naval Affairs February 14, 2013 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL32109 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress Summary The Navy’s FY2013 budget submission calls for procuring nine Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class destroyers in FY2013-FY2017, in annual quantities of 2-1-2-2-2. The five DDG-51s scheduled for procurement in FY2013-FY2015, and one of the two scheduled for procurement in FY2016, are to be of the current Flight IIA design. The Navy wants to begin procuring a new version of the DDG-51 design, called the Flight III design, starting with the second of the two ships scheduled for procurement in FY2016. The two DDG-51s scheduled for procurement in FY2017 are also to be of the Flight III design. The Flight III design is to feature a new and more capable radar called the Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR). The Navy for FY2013 is requesting congressional approval to use a multiyear procurement (MYP) arrangement for the nine DDG-51s scheduled for procurement in FY2013-FY2017. The Navy’s proposed FY2013 budget requests $3,048.6 million to complete the procurement funding for the two DDG-51s scheduled for procurement in FY2013. The Navy estimates the total procurement cost of these ships at $3,149.4 million, and the ships have received $100.7 million in prior-year advance procurement (AP) funding. The FY2013 budget also requests $466.3 million in AP funding for DDG-51s to be procured in future fiscal years. The Navy’s proposed FY2013 budget also requests $669.2 million in procurement funding to help complete procurement costs for three Zumwalt (DDG-1000) class destroyers procured in FY2007-FY2009, and $223.6 million in research and development funding for the AMDR. Potential FY2013 issues for Congress concerning destroyer procurement include the following: • the potential impact of a year-long continuing resolution (CR) and sequester on the DDG-51 program in FY2013; • whether actions should be taken to mitigate the projected shortfall in cruisers and destroyers; • whether to approve the Navy’s request for a DDG-51 MYP arrangement beginning in FY2013, and if so, whether it should include Flight III DDG-51s; • the possibility of adding a 10th ship to the proposed DDG-51 MYP arrangement; • whether there is an adequate analytical basis for procuring Flight III DDG-51s in lieu of the previously planned CG(X) cruiser; • whether the Flight III DDG-51 would have sufficient air and missile capability to adequately perform future air and missile defense missions; • cost, schedule, and technical risk in the Flight III DDG-51 program; • whether the Flight III DDG-51 design would have sufficient growth margin for a projected 35- or 40-year service life; and • schedule risk for recently procured Flight IIA DDG-51s. Congressional Research Service Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Background ...................................................................................................................................... 1 DDG-51 Program ...................................................................................................................... 1 General ................................................................................................................................ 1 Resumption of Flight IIA DDG-51 Procurement in FY2010 .............................................. 3 Procurement of First Flight III DDG-51 Planned for FY2016 ............................................ 3 Request for Multiyear Procurement (MYP) in FY2013-FY2017 ....................................... 4 DDG-1000 Program .................................................................................................................. 5 Projected Shortfall in Cruisers and Destroyers .......................................................................... 7 Surface Combatant Construction Industrial Base ...................................................................... 9 FY2013 Funding Request .......................................................................................................... 9 Issues for Congress ........................................................................................................................ 10 Potential Impact on DDG-51 Program of Year-Long Continuing Resolution (CR) and Sequester in FY2013 ............................................................................................................ 10 Year-Long CR ................................................................................................................... 10 Sequestration ..................................................................................................................... 12 Projected Cruiser-Destroyer Shortfall ..................................................................................... 12 Request for Multiyear Procurement (MYP) in FY2013-FY2017 ............................................ 13 Potential for Additional Reductions to Planned Defense Spending Levels....................... 13 Design Stability ................................................................................................................. 13 th Adding a 10 Ship to the DDG-51 Multiyear Procurement (MYP) ........................................ 16 Flight III DDG-51: Analytical Basis ....................................................................................... 17 Flight III DDG-51: Adequacy of AAW and BMD Capability ................................................. 25 Flight III DDG-51: Cost, Technical, and Schedule Risk ......................................................... 28 July 2012 CBO report ....................................................................................................... 28 March 2012 Hearing.......................................................................................................... 28 March 2012 GAO Report .................................................................................................. 30 January 2012 GAO Report ................................................................................................ 30 Flight III DDG-51: Growth Margin ......................................................................................... 34 Flight IIA DDG-51: Schedule Risk ......................................................................................... 36 Options for Congress ..................................................................................................................... 38 Adjunct Radar Ship ................................................................................................................. 39 Flight III DDG-51 With Increased Capabilities....................................................................... 40 DDG-1000 Variant With AMDR ............................................................................................. 41 New-Design Destroyer ............................................................................................................ 41 Legislative Activity for FY2013 .................................................................................................... 42 FY2013 Funding Request ........................................................................................................ 42 FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4310/P.L. 112-239) ................................ 42 House ................................................................................................................................. 42 Senate ................................................................................................................................ 44 Conference ........................................................................................................................ 45 th FY2013 DOD Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5856 of 112 Congress) ......................................... 46 House ................................................................................................................................. 46 Senate ................................................................................................................................ 46 Congressional Research Service Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress Figures Figure 1. DDG-51 Class Destroyer .................................................................................................. 2 Figure 2. Cobra Judy Replacement Ship ....................................................................................... 40 Tables Table 1. Projected Cruiser-Destroyer Shortfall ................................................................................ 8 Appendixes Appendix A. Additional Background Information on DDG-1000 Program .................................. 48 Appendix B. Additional Background Information on CG(X) Cruiser Program ............................ 56 Contacts Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 59 Congressional Research Service Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues