Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)
Thu Nov 20, 2014, 08:32 PM Nov 2014

Ford-Class (Aircraft) Carrier Cost Overruns Appear Likely, GAO Says

http://gcaptain.com/ford-class-aircraft-carriers-cost-likely-to-rise-again-gao-says/

By David Lerman and Tony Capaccio



Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) — The cost of the U.S. Navy’s new aircraft carrier is likely to keep rising from the $12.9 billion now estimated, with the final price masked by deferring some work until after the ship is delivered, the Government Accountability Office said.

In the latest in a series of reports offering political ammunition to critics of the Navy’s most expensive warship, the GAO today reaffirmed its earlier concerns that the Ford-class carrier being built by Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. will cost more and take longer to complete than advertised.

“With the shipbuilder embarking on one of the most complex phases of construction with the greatest likelihood for cost growth, cost increases beyond the current $12.9 billion cost cap appear likely,” the watchdog agency said.

To stay within the cost cap, the Navy is deferring some work, including installing satellite communications equipment and correcting defects, until after the ship is delivered in order to create a funding reserve, the report found.

“This approach obscures visibility into the true cost of the ship and results in delivering a ship that is less complete than initially planned,” the GAO said.


More money down the rabbit hole, defending ourselves against an enemy that might never exist. I'm ALL for technology and innovation, but the Ford-Class carriers and the F-35 program are weapons systems that are being designed against enemies that have existing weapon systems that are of 1980's technologies, at best.
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Ford-Class (Aircraft) Carrier Cost Overruns Appear Likely, GAO Says (Original Post) Cooley Hurd Nov 2014 OP
WHAAAAATTT? AngryAmish Nov 2014 #1
Honestly, for that sort of money they should be building the Galactica. AngryAmish Nov 2014 #2
Shocked, shocked, etc. MADem Nov 2014 #3
Business as usual at the Pentagon. lpbk2713 Nov 2014 #4
The existing carriers are getting old and wearing out Lurks Often Nov 2014 #5
What Ford isn't overpriced? nt JeffHead Nov 2014 #6
Yes such a great honor to name our presidents after aircraft carriers. Rex Nov 2014 #7

MADem

(135,425 posts)
3. Shocked, shocked, etc.
Thu Nov 20, 2014, 08:36 PM
Nov 2014

They'd better put the driving range well aft, with a good net to catch all the golf balls!

/snark off!

lpbk2713

(42,696 posts)
4. Business as usual at the Pentagon.
Thu Nov 20, 2014, 08:37 PM
Nov 2014



I hate to think how many real life problems could be solved with thirteen billion dollars.


 

Lurks Often

(5,455 posts)
5. The existing carriers are getting old and wearing out
Thu Nov 20, 2014, 09:05 PM
Nov 2014

The just retired USS Enterprise CVN-65 after 51 years of service. The USS Ford is her replacement and the USS Nimitz is 42 years old. It's kind of like the average car, it reaches an age where it is more expensive to keep it running then the car is worth.

They knew that initial or "capital" expenditure was going to be higher, but the operational cost and total lifetime cost are expected to be lower then the prior Nimitz class. The designed life span of a Ford class carrier is NINETY years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_R._Ford-class_aircraft_carrier

It certainly isn't unusual for the first of a brand new design to run over budget.

And if we wait for the threat to actually exist, it will be FAR too late to build the carriers we need, something that applies to major equipment for any of the military branches.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
7. Yes such a great honor to name our presidents after aircraft carriers.
Thu Nov 20, 2014, 09:12 PM
Nov 2014

Whatever happened to names like Indomitable or Ironsides? They should be named after natural disasters.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Ford-Class (Aircraft) Car...