Nuclear-powered DDG? Lawmakers, Navy differ

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Congressman seeks nuclear Burke
Roughead doubts a reactor could fit there.


Nuclear-powered DDG? Lawmakers, Navy differ
By Christopher P. Cavas - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 10, 2008 6:45:31 EDT

Could a nuclear-powered version of the venerable Arleigh Burke DDG 51-class destroyer become the next missile cruiser for the Navy? That’s the vision of at least one influential congressman.

Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., chairman of the seapower subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, said Thursday he is seeking to add money to the 2009 request to fund an effort to build a nuclear-powered warship that would supplant construction of the DDG 1000 destroyers.

The new ship would be a slightly larger version of the 9,200-ton DDG 51s, powered by one nuclear reactor of the type developed for the new Gerald R. Ford CVN 78-class aircraft carriers.

Taylor said he would end the DDG 1000 Zumwalt class at the two ships already ordered and cancel plans to build a total of seven of the ships.

“I’m more frustrated than most with the slow pace of rebuilding the fleet,” Taylor said. “The answer (from the Navy) always is, ‘We’re studying it.’ So we’re going to turn the equation around a little bit.”


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/defense_nuclear_destroyer_031008/