$40 billion for a new warship?

[unhappycamper]

So I was reading the military rags this morning and DoD Buzz discussion at the end of the article blew me away.

Secondly. The next aircraft carrier that will come after the USS Ford. The USS Ford has gone “bonkers” in costs. Projected at $11 billion when the contracts were let out, it was at $26 billion on 12/31/09 and official sources that I have seen project its final price tag at in excess of $40 billion.

The line in the sand for the next carrier has been drawn at $16 billion. Just to compare the USS George H.W. Bush will cost $6 billion when its turned over to the fleet hopefully in this government year.

The Carrier issue could hit the fan as soon as the next budget. The US will buy more carriers, thats a fact, the US surface fleet is carrier centric, but their will be a lot of political blood on the water before the next hull is authorized.

:wtf:

Here's the original article:

Gates OKs F-18 Multiyear
By Colin Clark Friday, May 14th, 2010 1:49 pm
Posted in Air, Policy

DefSec Robert Gates finally gave the nod to using the multiyear authority granted him by Congress last year. Akin’s press release follows. As I get more data I will update.

Rep. Todd Akin, top Republican on the House Armed Services air and land forces subcommittee, has pushed and pushed and pushed for Gates to use the multiyear authority that Congress granted, and which it jealously guards, immediately crowed about the news.

“I commend Secretary Gates and (Navy) Secretary Mabus for seeing the light and moving forward with a multiyear contract. A multiyear contract for F-18s saves the Navy and taxpayers over half a billion dollars, provides stability for the workforce in St. Louis, and is an important insurance policy as the Navy faces a large strike fighter shortfall. It is encouraging to see the Navy and DoD come to their senses on this issue, after I have spent two years arguing that a multiyear contract made sense on all fronts,” said the Missouri lawmaker.

“This multiyear is the first step toward addressing the Navy’s fighter shortfall, but more needs to be done. Super Hornets are fantastic planes that provide amazing capabilities for our Navy and are the most affordable fighter aircraft the DoD is currently buying. The DoD should consider using the fantastic price provided by the multiyear contract to buy additional planes to reduce the Navy’s fighter gap” said Akin.

Akin’s state colleague, Sen. Kit Bond, issued a brief press statement, calling the decision “a tremendous win” for the military and the country.



unhappycamper comment: Byron Skinner is a well known poster at this site. He has a TON of resources at his disposal, and has never been wrong on the money issue as far as I know.

$40 billion dollars for a fucking aircraft carrier. No wonder this country is going bankrupt.

[Scuba]

1. Where are....

... the Teabaggers, complaining about high taxes?

... the right wingers, complaining about government spending?

Oh, that's right. Their masters will make a boatload of money off this, so it's OK.

Food and education for the poor? We can't afford it.

Healthcare for all? We can't afford it.

Carriers? Gotta have 'em, no matter the cost.

[robinblue]

12. add Democrats to that.

[Scuba]

13. You're correct. My error of omission.

[underseasurveyor]

20. If it's for "war"

and/or something that they believe can protect their cowardly asses from scary mean foreign people? That's different.. it's OK.

[MajorChode]

2. Someone has the whole Guns vs Butter model all fucked up

[RedCloud]

3. I would expect a galaxy star craft to cost that much, not some stinking boat.

[B Calm]

4. Then you wonder how many tax dollars it takes to run these boats. . .

[unhappycamper]

5. A number I recently heard was the initial cost of the ship comprised

around 60% of the total cost.

The aircraft carrier uses reactors for power but the airplanes burn gas. Ka Ching.

[B Calm]

8. Just the wages of the crew would boggle your mind.

[Obamanaut]

9. Think of the groceries! I was on several carriers during my career.

Imagine the groceries for 5 - 6,000 people (when deployed with the airwing aboard) for 3 (at least) meals a day for all those people.

[B Calm]

10. I know this is insane. . . I was stationed aboard a guided missile cruiser

USS Albany CG10 and we only had around 1100 men aboard. The cost of running that ship and showing the world our flag had to be enormous to tax payers.

[Prometheus Bound]

6. I'd buy one if I had some extra cash kicking around.

Lots of living space.

[hobbit709]

7. $40 billion would buy a hellova lot of healthcare or infrastructure.

[Motown_Johnny]

11. I thought we now had a"space plane" that could go anywhere on earth in half an hour?

aircraft carriers seem like WW2 technology to me now (no matter how advanced the equipment on board)


http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2010/0420/Air-Force-to-launch-X-37-space-plane-Precursor-to-war-in-orbit


^snip^


The Air Force is preparing to launch this robotic spacecraft that resembles a small space shuttle to perform unspecified technology tests in orbit and then autonomously glide on stubby wings to a landing on a California runway. Originally intended to be launched from a space shuttle, the reusable X- 37 space plane has been a decade in development.

[Possumpoint]

14. At The Outbreak Of The Next Major War

Carriers will be a liability, not a resource. They are big, hard to defend and an easy target for missiles, either surface to surface or air to surface.

[arcadian]

15. You don't even really have to be accurate with a nuke to disable one.

Just hit in general vicinity and then in the next week watch as the "floating city" is stricken with radiation sickness and thyroid problems.

[Confusious]

16. That's too expensive

In more ways then one. Think cheaper. $10,000-$20,000 shore to ship super sonic missile, and it's done.

[unhappycamper]

18. $10 to $20 grand won't even get you in the door.

Here's an example - precision 155mm round:



$89,000


Article at: --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M982_Excalibur

[Confusious]

19. Ok, I'm a little way low on the price

but lets say you spent $1 million. Still a low price to take out a carrier and it's planes.

[tech9413]

17. I read an interview with a former procurement officer

He said that we haven't gotten our monies worth for any weapons system since the 50's. Too much lobbying, too little oversight, and too much wanting bigger toys.
We could cut our military budget in half overnight if it weren't for the crud that make a fortune by selling us shit we don't need.