March 16, 2012 ISSUE: The Future of the SSBN Follow-On Platform The Affordability of the Ohio Replacement

Program and its Impact on Shipbuilding

Background: Over the next eight years, Kings Bay will only have seven (7) submarines operating out of Kings Bay. There will be five (5) SSBNs and two (2) SSGNs. On a rotational basis one SSBN will go through a refueling overhaul in Norfolk, VA. When the refueling ends in 2019, Kings Bay will have eight (8) submarines. The installation was built to homeport 10 submarines, and portions of the installation were built with an even larger force in mind. SSBNs are approaching their end of life. They were built for a 40 year life span with one refueling at the 20 year mark. In 2027, just 15 years, the submarine numbers in Kings Bay will begin to decline from a high of eight (8) at a rate of one every two years as the submarine hulls end of life is reached. Currently, the Navy plans to replace the Trident class submarines with a program called the Ohio Replacement Program (ORP). For Kings Bay to survive this transition, ORP must be fully operational and delivered in 2025 in order for all the testing certifications to take place. Research and Development began in fiscal year 2010 and a detailed design should be delivered in 2017. The first patrol will be in 2031. To ensure there is no gap in our strategic deterrent capability, we will need to start procuring the Ohio Class replacement in 2019. Our alliance with the United Kingdom (U.K.) is critical to our worldwide strategic deterrent capability. The U.K.s SSBN Force will begin retiring before the U.S. SSBN Force. By sharing technical and design costs with the U.K. it is mutually beneficial to both countries. The Navy currently plans to build only 12 ships to replace the current SSBNs. The estimated cost for each ship is about $4.9B. This would be a large portion of the Navys shipbuilding budget in one year! Recommendation: We ask our legislators to aggressively support full funding for the Ohio Replacement Program. If this capability were to be delayed, our national security as well as our industrial base would be at risk. While its funding will be a large portion of the total shipbuilding budget, cost reduction efforts, optimized in the Virginia Class submarine program, can make it affordable within fiscal constraints. Background: The Weapon System Acquisition Reform Act (PL 111-21) which Congress passed unanimously emphasized the importance of having a reliable design phase before construction begins on any new program. In a nuclear world where proliferation is the media, the United States cannot do without these Ohio Class submarines and the deterrent they provide. We now have fourteen Ohio Class Tridents and the current plans call for only twelve replacements, but there are discussions of dropping these numbers to ten. While striking a balance between national security and current fiscal woes deterrence must be a priority. Recommendation: Insure that we are making the appropriate investment in R & D now. This is essential for the delivery of a reliable, survivable and adaptable ballistic missile submarine. This submarine will be operating until 2080. The Navy plan calls for procuring the first Ohio replacement in FY2021 with advanced procurement beginning in FY2015. We request continued support for the timeline established for the ORP which would result in funding of $1,067M. The proposed budget for ORP in FY13 is $564.9M a reduction of $639.7M. If efforts to achieve this are not successful we request Congress to authorize an additional $150M above the Presidents budget for the design of ORP and the R & D required to mitigate risk to the industrial base and achieve the most efficient design process.

The Camden Partnership P. O. Box 5222, St. Marys, GA Phone: (912) 223-3588

Sheila M. McNeill President sheilamcneill@bellsouth.net

March 16, 2012

OHIO REPLACEMENT PROGRAM (ORP) ESTIMATED TIME LINE This time line is in jeopardy with a two year delay.
FY 2012-2017 FY 2017 FY 2017 FY 2021 FY 2021 FY 2025 FY 2026 Continued R&D funding in FY2012 Advanced procurement of first ORP Estimated date UK SSBN begins procurement The latest start date for the lead ORP Begin the build of replacements until 2035 UK SSBNs begin to retire US SSBNs begin to retire

At the same time we begin purchasing Ohio replacement ships in 2019, the Navy will be facing end of service life retirements on: 1. Los Angeles Class attack submarine fleet 2. CG-47 Ticonderoga class guided missile cruisers 3. DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers (note this was the replacement that originally competed for funding when we were lobbying for the SSGN. SSGN was approved and DDX was not.) 4. LDS 41 5. LDS 49 class dock landing ships

The Camden Partnership P. O. Box 5222, St. Marys, GA Phone: (912) 223-3588

Sheila M. McNeill President sheilamcneill@bellsouth.net