WASHINGTON, DC- Refusing the Navy’s request for funding two DD(X) destroyers to be built over the next two years by Bath Iron Works and by Ingalls Shipyard in Mississippi, the House Armed Services Committee instead has approved a Defense Authorization bill that funds only one DD(X), which would likely be built at Ingalls. The House version would scale back BIW’s involvement in the first ship to largely performing detailed design work and not construction. The House bill also would curtail the overall DD(X) program to only two ships, even though the Navy currently plans to build seven over the next ten years.
Senator Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, pledged to fight for full funding for the DD(X) as the Senate Committee completes its consideration of Navy shipbuilding requests this week. She is working to include funding for two DD(X) destroyers -- one to be constructed at BIW and the other at Ingalls -- in the Senate version of the Defense Authorization bill.
“The House Defense Authorization bill would ignore the requirements of the Navy, jeopardize our national security capabilities, and be devastating to the skilled workforce at BIW. The DD(X) program, which is the next generation destroyer for the Navy, is absolutely critical to the future of our Navy and the future of BIW," Senator Collins said. "I am working with my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee to ensure that the House’s reduced funding does not prevail, and I am optimistic that the Senate Committee will produce a far better bill.”
Senator Collins said that the House bill also shortchanges research and development accounts for the DD(X), slashing $794 million from the President's request of $3.4 billion for the overall DD(X) program.
The Navy has described the DD(X) program as an urgent requirement that is crucial for the Navy to win future battles at sea. The DD(X) has many advantages such as a smaller required crew size than the DDG, advanced stealth technologies, and sophisticated future generation weapons systems.
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