Defense Acquisitions: Zumwalt-Class Destroyer Program Emblematic of Challenges Facing Navy Shipbuilding

The U.S. Navy is about to begin construction of the first Zumwalt-Class destroyer (DDG 1000) amid considerable uncertainties and a high likelihood of cost and schedule growth. Significant cost growth and schedule delays are persistent problems that continue to compromise the Navy¿s shipbuilding goals. This testimony focuses on: (1) the challenges faced by the DDG 1000 program; and (2) the strain such challenges portend for long term shipbuilding plans. Charts and tables.

DDG 1000 development has been framed by challenging multimission requirements, resultant numerous new technologies, and a cost and schedule budget that added to-rather than eased-the challenge. While the Navy has done much work to try to manage the program within these competing goals, it will begin lead ship construction in October 2008 with significant uncertainties, particularly in developing the ship's design, key components, and the ship software system. Recent restructuring of the schedule buys more time for technology development, but shifts key efforts like installation and testing of the combat systems until later in the construction schedule-after the ships have been initially delivered. Such compromises-made before construction has even begun-suggest that the Navy already has little margin for solving future problems without adding money and time. In fact, it appears that the budget for the lead ships is not adequate to deliver fully operational ships. The complexity and unique features of DDG 1000, along with the design work, testing, and actual construction experience to come, add to the risk of cost growth.

Why has the US military begun to suffer from overstretch in recent decades? Why is one of the largest militaries in the world, and the most expensive by far, periodically stressed by the operational demands placed upon it? This book argues that recent problems with overstretch are the result of a heavy reliance on technology to solve tactical and strategic problems. Over the last seven decades, the US armed services have consistently chosen to push the technological frontier out in an effort to first gain, and then maintain, qualitative superiority over potential foes. The high procurement and support costs associated with cutting-edge weapon systems has resulted in a military that is shrinking in both absolute size and in the relative share of combat forces. The culmination of this process is a US military that increasingly lacks the capacity needed to conduct operations without putting significant stress on its personnel and equipment. Lake argues that this pattern is a manifestation of an American cultural disposition favoring technology. He shows that this affinity for technology is present in the organizational cultures of all the armed services, though not to the same degree. By examining procurement programs for each armed service, this book reveals how attempts to develop and leverage superior technology has resulted in some notable program failures, high procurement costs for the latest generation of equipment with associated production cuts, and the high support requirements that are causing the relative share of combat forces to shrink. Lake’s analysis of recent initiatives by the armed services suggests that this pattern is likely to continue, with the US military remaining prone to overstretch whenever its operational tempo increases above the peacetime baseline.

The World Naval Review is designed to fill the need for an authoritative but affordable summary of all that has happened in the naval world in the previous twelve months. It combines the standing features of regional surveys with one-off major articles on noteworthy new ships and other important developments. Besides the latest warship projects, it also looks at wider issues of importance to navies, such as aviation and electronics, and calls on expertise from around the globe to give a balanced picture of what is going on and to interpret its significance. Intended to make interesting reading as well as providing authoritative reference, there is a strong visual emphasis, including specially commissioned drawings and the most recently released photographs and artists' impressions.For anyone with an interest in contemporary naval affairs, whether an enthusiast or a defence professional, this annual is set to become required reading.