Navy Shipbuilding Programs

Nuclear Attack Submarine Issues Gao ID: T-NSIAD-95-162 May 16, 1995

This testimony on production of the Navy's nuclear attack submarines makes three main points. First, alternatives to the Navy's approach to maintain the required SSN force structure could save billions of dollars and meet the Navy's force structure and threat requirements. Second, there is agreement within the intelligence community that Russia's frontline submarines are for the first time as quiet as or quieter than the SSN-688I and that Russia plans to continue reducing radiated noise levels on its submarines. Third, although the Navy argues that maintaining two nuclear shipbuilders preserves competition and hedges against future uncertainties, GAO concludes that consolidating production at a single shipyard would cut costs dramatically.



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