AN EXCERPT FROM THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997

Subtitle C-Navy Programmes Legisiative Provisions Adopted

Nuclear Attack Submarine Programs (Sec. 121)

The budget request included $296.2 million of advance construction and procurement funding for a fiscal year 1998 nuclear attack submarine and $699 .1 million for procurement of the third Seawolf class submarine, SSN 23. Research and development funding in the budget request for the fiscal year 1998 submarine was initially reported 11 $489.4 million but was subsequently corrected to $487 .6 million. The budget request included no advance construction and procurement funding for the procurement of a second nuclear attack submarine in fiscal year 1999, 11 called for in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 [Editor’s Note: See THE SUBMARINE REVIEW, April 1996] and the Navy’s six year shipbuilding plan that was submitted in conjunction with the budget request.

The House bill contained a provision… (for)…$504. million for advance construction and procurement for a fiscal year 1999 nuclear attack submarine that would be built at Newport News Shipbuilding.

The House bill would also authorize an increase of $188.0 million to pursue … advance submarine technology initiatives that were identified in Report on Nuclear Attack Submarine Procurement and Submarine Technology, submitted to Congress by the Secretary of Defense on March 26, 1997. The added funds would also be used for design initiatives intended to ensure that new technology is incorporated into the design of four developmental submarines that would begin construction at the rate of one per year during the period fiscal year 1998 to fiscal year 2001 and on serial production submarines that would not be authorized until fiscal year 2003. It would also revise the basis of the competition for serial production so that it would be based on best value vice price.

Additionally, the House provision would direct the Department of Defense to implement specified acquisition simplification strategies in order to expedite the fielding of more capable, less expensive nuclear attack submarines.

The Senate amendment (to the House bill) contained a provision (sec. 123) that would authorize $804.1 million for procurement of SSN 23, $296.2 million of advance construction and procurement funding for a fiscal year 1998 nuclear attack submarine that would be built at Electric Boat, and $701.0 million for advance construction and procurement for a fiscal year 1999 nuclear attack submarine that would be built at Newport News Shipbuilding.This authorization would satisfy all procurement funding requirements for SSN 23 and all advance construction and procurement funding requirements for the fiscal year 1998 and fiscal year 1999 submarines.

The Senate amendment would increase funding for advance submarine technology by $1000.0 million to pursue … advance submarine technology initiatives. The Senate amendment would also place limitations, similar in intent if not in detail, on the expenditure of fiscal year 1997 procurement funds until the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology take certain steps to comply with section 131 of the National Defense Authorization act for Fiscal Year 1996.

The conferees agreed to authorize $699 .1 million for procurement of SSN 23, $296.2 million of advance construction and procurement funding for a fiscal year 1998 nuclear attack submarine that will be built at Electric Boat, and $701.0 million for advance construction and procurement for a fiscal year 1999 nuclear attack submarine that will be built at Newport News Shipbuilding.

For research and development the conference agreement:
(1) authorizes $60.0 million to mature and transition the core technologies identified in the Secretary of Defense’s Report QD Nuclear Attack Submarine Procurement and Submarine Technology with emphasis on hydrodynamics, alternative sail designs, advanced arrays, electric drive, external weapons, and active controls and mounts;

(2) directs that of this $60.0 million, $20.0 million is to be equally divided between Electric Boat and Newport News to ensure the two shipbuilders are principal participants in the process of including new technologies in the design of future attack submarines. The conferees intend that the shipbuilders be allowed access to naval intelligence data and that there be continuing interaction among the shipyards, the Navy laboratories, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; … and…

(3) affirms that the serial production of future nuclear attack submarines to follow the four developmental submarines will occur not earlier than fiscal year 2002 and only after a competition based on price.