Prez’s FY-20 Navy requests

President Trump released his FY 2020 Defense budget March 11, which includes several Navy aviation readiness and shipbuilding programs, as part of $718B in requested funding. The requests include a third attack submarine and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. The request also steers money toward recruitment and retention, according to a White House summary. The addition of a third attack submarine to the budget was welcomed by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), who chairs a House Armed Services subcommittee, whose district includes one of two submarine yards. But, also, whose party leadership has called the budget requests dead on arrival. In early March, the Navy released a draft Request For Proposals for the design and construction of a planned class of 20 next-generation guided-missile frigates (FFG(X)). The draft called for building the first 10 ($up to 950M each for hull numbers 2 through 10). The goal is to award a contract in FY-20 for Frigate Hull #1. Small design contracts were awarded to Austal USA of Mobile, Ala.; Lockheed Martin; Huntington Ingalls Industries of Pascagoula, Miss.; Fincantieri Marine and General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works (BIW) of Maine. However, the construction competition will be open to any competitor. As FY-18 ended, the Navy signed a five-year, $9B contract with HII-Pascagoula and BIW to build 10 destroyers with options for up to five more if monies are available. The proposed budget calls for three, the same as FY-19’s budget. FY-20 could see a slowdown (comparatively speaking) for shipbuilding that is creating concern on Capitol Hill/industry. The next amphibious assault ship (LHA-9 for HII-Pascagoula) has been considered an FY-24 project. The Marines/industry wants to move it up to FY-21 to keep production lines running. Some reports indicate SECDEF may be planning to delay that pace. (Source: USNI News 03/11/19)