Skip to main content

Surface Combatants: Navy Faces Challenges Sustaining Its Current Program

NSIAD-97-57 Published: May 21, 1997. Publicly Released: May 21, 1997.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

GAO reviewed: (1) the Navy's basis for its current and planned surface combatant force; (2) the Navy's plans to sustain the current force size into the next century; and (3) key factors that could affect future force requirements.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should provide the Congress with specific information regarding the surface combatant force. Such information should include the number and types of surface combatants that are needed to fight and win two nearly simultaneous major regional conflicts.
Closed – Implemented
The Navy believes that the 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review satisfies the intent of the recommendation. The action partially satisfies the recommendation.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should provide the Congress with specific information regarding the surface combatant force. Such information should include the number of ships that are needed to meet peacetime forward presence objectives.
Closed – Implemented
The Navy believes that the 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review met the purpose of the recommendation. The action partially satisfies the recommendation.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should provide the Congress with specific information regarding the surface combatant force. Such information should include the key assumptions that support the force level and mix, such as expected allied contributions.
Closed – Implemented
The Navy believes that the 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review satisfy the purpose of the recommendation. The action taken partially satisfies the recommendation.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should provide the Congress with specific information regarding the surface combatant force. Such information should include the expected impact of new technologies and capabilities on the size and composition of the future force.
Closed – Implemented
The Navy believes that the 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review satisfy the purpose of the recommendation. The action taken partially satisfies the recommendation.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should provide the Congress with specific information regarding the surface combatant force. Such information should include the impact of the Arsenal Ship on the surface combatant force structure.
Closed – Implemented
The Navy believes that the 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review satisfy the purpose of the recommendation. The action taken partially satisfies the recommendation.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should also provide information on the Navy's plan to sustain the surface combatant force level, including key assumptions regarding expected service lives, pace of the shipbuilding program, types of ships, required funding, and any other factor that might alter the requirement.
Closed – Implemented
The Navy believes that the 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review satisfy the purpose of the recommendation. The action taken partially satisfies the recommendation.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Construction costsDefense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningSurface combatantsFuture budget projectionsMilitary downsizingMilitary vesselsNaval procurementNaval warfareShipbuilding industry