http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2008-08-07/0746515286.html
美國海軍明確表示：不再需要新建DDG1000戰艦
http://www.sina.com.cn  2008年08月07日 07:46  中國國防科技資訊網

　　防務新聞網2008年8月1日報導 在7月31日舉行的國會聽證會期間，美國海軍主管採購的高層官員提出了顛覆性的意見，表示海軍需要採購更多的阿利•伯克級，即DDG51級驅逐艦，而不再需要購買已經為之努力了13年的下一代驅逐艦。

　　在過去的數年中，海軍方面一直要求技術革新，超越20世紀80年代阿利•伯克級的水準，升級為DDG1000朱姆爾沃特級新型驅逐艦。但現在，他們藉口艦艇無法發射改進型標準導彈，與早先工業要求不符，聲稱朱姆爾沃特級不能滿足要求。

　　他們還宣稱，阿利•伯克級能更好的適應新的“機密威脅”，但該威脅的細節不便透露。代表海軍講話的是負責海軍資源與能力整合事務的巴里•麥克庫洛中將和負責造艦計畫的海軍助理部長艾裏遜•斯蒂勒。

　　在早期國會和公眾對DDG1000的討論中，焦點是它的造價問題，現在估計已經上升到每艘32億美元。今年早些時候，眾議院武裝部隊委員會海上力量分會主席基恩•泰勒曾試圖將第三艘朱姆爾沃特艦從海軍的預算請求中刪除，因為他認為該型先進戰艦迅速上升的成本會破壞海軍整個採購預算。

　　海軍方面領導人上周證實，他們在完成兩艘後將停止該級艦的建造，取消原先建造七艘的計畫。此前，海軍方面曾要求建造32艘。

　　聽證會後，泰勒堅持他的立場，認為成本才是該項目的最大問題。而海軍7月31日的表態卻說明，不是官方無法控制未來戰艦的成本，而是我們面臨的世界威脅已經改變，使得再建造至少8艘阿利•伯克級艦顯得更有意義。但何時建造這些艦艇，以及如何裝備，這些具體細節仍然不明朗。

　　“如果不是經費問題，那為什麼不繼續朱姆爾沃特計畫？” 瑟斯塔克質問道。

　　泰勒插嘴說，經費可能已經不是海軍方面制訂計畫時所考慮的問題，但對附屬委員會，它仍然很重要。

　　但麥克庫洛堅持認為，需要更多阿利•伯克級艦來對付彈道導彈、掠海飛行反艦巡航導彈和安靜型柴電潛艇帶來的威脅。

　　他們還告訴附屬委員會的成員，海軍陸戰隊不再需要朱姆爾沃特級艦上155毫米先進艦炮系統的遠端火力支援，因為這樣的支援可以由戰斧巡航導彈和精確空襲來提供。麥克庫洛稱，海軍陸戰隊對此表示同意，雖然其指揮部的一位發言人卡爾•裏丁上校說他不能立即確認與海軍達成了一致。

　　包括國會預算辦公室的海軍實驗室和艾力克實驗室的羅恩•奧羅克在內的另一組國會海軍專家告訴議員們，在7月31日麥克庫洛提及之前，他們未曾聽聞海軍陸戰隊收回了對離岸海軍艦炮遠端火力支援的要求。

　　記者們無法向麥克庫洛或者斯蒂勒詢問有關阿利•伯克級艦新的採購計畫或者海軍陸戰隊火力支援問題的細節。麥克庫洛和斯蒂勒在大批安全人員的護送下，從聽證會室走出，穿過瑞本眾議院辦公大樓的大門，直接鑽進了正在等待的一輛汽車，全然不理新聞記者們的大聲提問。前幾次聽證會還遵循了證人在聽證會後停下來回答記者們提問的慣例，而此次卻完全不同。

　　新水面艦艇專案已經花費了大約13年時間和100億美元(這個數字還不包括花費在已開始建造的兩艘艦艇身上的資金)，專案名稱也從DD21變成DD(X)，最後改為DDG1000。而這以後，海軍方面卻在幾周的時間裏對世界威脅情勢進行了徹底的重新評估。此次聽證會開始階段，許多附屬委員會成員對此表示懷疑。

　　尼基•桑格斯指出，三月份麥克庫洛告訴國會DDG1000對海軍未來使命至關重要。他現在還遵守他的證詞嗎？

　　麥克庫洛和斯蒂勒稱，他們仍然認為DDG1000具備很高作戰能力，但更多的阿利•伯克驅逐艦是應對當前非對稱威脅的更好選擇。麥克庫洛引用了2006年黎巴嫩恐怖組織真主党對一艘以色列巡邏艇進行的反艦導彈攻擊作為證據。

　　吉姆•朗之萬質問，今年海軍方面為第三艘DDG1000進行了預算請求，為什麼又做出了這樣一個徹底轉變。在決定建成兩艘後停止建造DDG1000之前，海軍方面是否對替代方案進行了分析，或者是否與其他軍事指揮人員進行了協商？

　　麥克庫洛回答說“沒有”，並解釋說海軍作戰部長加里•拉夫海德上將在去年10月份上任時就指出，海軍的艦艇需要適應“非對稱局勢”的需要。海軍在火力支援方面的能力已經飽和，因此不再需要建造1995年以來在各個階段批准的新型艦艇。麥克庫洛和斯蒂勒還說，拉夫海德還沒有最後批准取消海軍已經訂購的兩艘以外的五艘艦艇。

　　在第二次討論中，政府審計總署的一位採購專家保羅•法蘭西斯說，火力支援飽和的問題令他很吃驚。

　　瑟斯塔克說他對於他稱作最近的“海洋變化”的危險感到擔心，而海軍在它意識到的未來幾年的威脅中已經明顯在遭受這些危險。

　　“我關心的是一個可信度問題，不是一個人的，而是一個過程的。現在我不知道海軍的意圖是什麼，”他說，“海軍的未來在哪里？”(中國船舶資訊中心 呂強)

http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-07/28/content_8787104.htm
昂貴的DDG-1000驅逐艦參議院仍然有支持者 
2008年07月28日 13:21:22 　來源：新華網

   新華網消息，據國防科技信息網報道，海事日志網站2008年7月25日刊文：造價昂貴的DDG-1000驅逐艦在參議院仍然有支持者。

   陸海空三軍委員會的海上力量委員會主席愛德華·肯尼迪參議員以及其他許多的參議員，要求國防部長羅伯特·蓋茨重新審視和評估海軍關于將來只定購兩艘DDG-1000朱姆爾沃特級驅逐艦的計劃。此前海軍的計劃是訂購七艘。計劃削減後，海軍將轉而購買更多的DDG-51驅逐艦。

   他們向蓋茨提交了一封信，信中稱，取消DDG-1000的決定可能會導致國會在2009財年不再為新的水面艦艇撥款。

   今年二月，鑒于肯尼迪參議員辦公室的聲明，海軍部長唐納德·溫特向陸海空三軍委員會保證將執行正常預算程序。而現在，僅僅五個月之後，溫特部長和海軍作戰部長加裏·羅斯海德上將就推翻先前的承諾，試圖取消計劃。關于放棄DDG-1000轉而訂購能力相對較差的DDG-51，海軍沒有向國會提供任何證據以證明此事的合理性。去年，參謀長聯席會議主席穆勒上將表示，海軍不再需要更多的DDG-51驅逐艦，因為這會使海軍倒退到二十世紀八十年代的技術水平。

   如此重要的決定，如果沒有經過適當國會委員會正常預算程序的仔細分析，是不可能做出的。

   在信上署名的包括參議員肯尼迪、科裏、韋伯、道根、科爾、裏德、斯諾、柯林斯、科爾曼、懷特豪斯、馬丁斯和尼爾森。（中國船舶信息中心  呂強）

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080724/ap_on_re_us/stealth_destroyer_3
Cost big factor in decision to sack destroyer

By DAVID SHARP, Associated Press Writer
Thu Jul 24, 4:41 AM ET

PORTLAND, Maine - Growing costs and vulnerability to anti-ship missiles sank the Navy's once-heralded "stealth destroyer," a highly advanced warship designed to slip close to the shore unnoticed and pummel targets with big guns.

Faced with cost estimates upward of $5 billion per ship, the Navy had no choice but to let its prized DDG-1000 Zumwalt destroyer program end after the first two ships are built, analysts said Wednesday.

Congressional investigators long had been concerned that the Navy tried to incorporate too many new technologies on an untested platform. The originally envisioned 32 ships dipped to 12 and then seven as costs grew.

"I don't think this thing was a shock because fundamentally the whole program was a big fat target for many years," said Jay Korman, defense analyst at The Avascent Group.

Sen. Susan Collins, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday that the Navy instead plans to build nine more of its current Arleigh Burke destroyers, possibly with some added capabilities that went into the newer warship.

The DDG-1000's growing cost came as the Navy is trying to expand to a 313-ship fleet. Officially, the new ships are to cost roughly double the $1.3 billion price of a Burke destroyer. But estimates for the first two run as high as $5 billion.

Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Lexington Institute, said the Navy can't afford the DDG-1000 but it can't afford to stop building ships, either, if it wants to achieve its shipbuilding goals and maintain a shipbuilding infrastructure.

Another problem with the DDG-1000 design was its potential vulnerability. Bombarding the shore with guns is cheaper than using missiles, but the ship would be vulnerable to attack if it came within 100 miles of shore to use its 155-millimeter guns, Thompson said.

"The Navy should have understood a long time ago that putting a $3 billion destroyer off the coast of a hostile country so that it could use gunfire was a dangerous proposition," he said.

Finally, there was no known threat to justify the warship, experts said.

"Please tell me what this thing would do today, if it were available in Iraq or Afghanistan?" said Winslow Wheeler from the Center for Defense Information. "Talk about something that's totally out of control. This thing is a national embarrassment, that's what it is."

For years, the Zumwalt has been one of the Navy's prized programs. It has a low profile and composites in its superstructure for stealth. It also features a form of electric drive propulsion, new combat systems and a new hull form.

Displacing about 14,500 tons, the ship is 50 percent larger than a Burke destroyer but will have half the crew thanks to automated systems.

"I still believe that the ship offers capabilities that the Navy lacks and needs, but it's up to the Navy to determine its military requirement," said Collins, a Maine Republican

Maine's Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics subsidiary, is building one of the ships. Northrop Grumman's Ingalls shipyard in Mississippi is building the other.

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2008-07-28/0856513567.html
美軍終止DDG-1000驅逐艦專案相關公司損失巨大
http://www.sina.com.cn 2008年07月28日 08:56 中國國防科技資訊網

　　據波斯頓網站2008年7月24日報導 美海軍昨天作出了一項令人震驚的決定：終止200億美元的新型驅逐艦“朱姆沃爾特”級(DDG-1000)採購專案。這一決定使雷聲公司最大的防務計畫陷入混亂，而且使得長期備受關注的緬因州巴斯鋼鐵船廠的命運問題舊事重提。

　　雷聲公司位於沃爾瑟姆，是DDG-1000驅逐艦作戰系統的主承包商，它正在其位於吐克斯伯利和安杜佛的工廠開展上述系統的研發。導彈驅逐艦的裝配工作分別由通用動力的巴斯鋼鐵公司和諾•格公司的英格爾斯船廠承擔。

　　僅僅建造兩艘DDG-1000驅逐艦、取消後續建造的決定是緬因州的兩位共和黨議員奧林匹亞J•斯洛和蘇珊 M•柯林斯以及選區在巴斯鋼鐵船廠所在區域的一位元民主黨代表湯瑪斯 H•艾倫共同發佈的。這些議員說，他們接到海軍的通知，告訴他們由於單艦成本增長50%達到30億美元，使得該驅逐艦計畫成本太高，無法達到海軍313艘艦艇的整體目標。目前海軍擁有280艘艦艇。

　　這些議員還被告知，海軍認為驅逐艦的設計並不適用於對抗不斷升級的遠端導彈攻擊。

　　海軍代表拒絕確認他們已經放棄了這一項目，雷聲公司以及通用動力公司的發言人亦是如此。一位海軍發言人昨天說：“我們不會討論有關內部預算情況的內容，也就是說，我們將繼續討論所有的選項來發展未來水面艦艇力量以滿足所有既定的需求。”

　　取消DDG-1000後續驅逐艦建造的消息引起了強烈反響。巴斯鋼鐵公司總裁昨天已飛往華盛頓，將與緬因州的議員就取消建造的影響展開討論。議員們以及他們的支持者已經計畫與海軍進行系列會晤以獲得更多的答案。

　　在與巴斯鋼鐵公司總裁會面後，緬因州共和黨議員柯林斯說，海軍打算建造更多阿利•伯克級驅逐艦DDG-51，有些可能會在巴斯鋼鐵建造，可以彌補DDG 1000項目所造成的損失。但也稱，船廠必須保證獲得DDG-51的工作才能維持目前的工作量，防止工人失業。

　　民主黨代表艾倫說，海軍已經保證他們會申請經費，在2015年前再建造9艘DDG-51驅逐艦。他說：“重拾DDG-51計畫可以使巴斯鋼鐵在未來幾年內有穩定的工作量，這點我很有信心。”目前巴斯鋼鐵的雇員數已經從二戰後1991年12000人的頂峰降到6000人。

　　而雷聲公司已向其吐克斯伯利、安杜佛、朴茨茅斯等工廠增派了約2000人，以承擔新型驅逐艦作戰系統的工作。雷聲公司希望借助“朱姆沃爾特”計畫，幫助它躍升為既能建造武器、也進行大型系統尖端技術集成的主要軍工合同商。DDG 1000合同是雷聲公司數以千計的軍工合同項目中最大的一單。

　　阿利•伯克驅逐艦的成本只有DDG-1000的一半，它的作戰系統是由雷聲公司的競爭對手洛克希德•馬丁公司生產的。停止採購DDG-1000、重拾DDG-51可能會把雷聲公司的作戰系統工作轉到洛克希德•馬丁公司。

　　雷聲公司的發言人稱，公司打算繼續建造已獲資金的兩艘DDG-1000驅逐艦的作戰系統工作。不過他也提議新系統也能在海軍的其他艦艇上應用。

　　“朱姆沃爾特”級驅逐艦計畫的終止是顯示海軍313艦艇計畫陷入困境的最新跡象。在經歷了建造延期和成本暴漲之後，海軍的造艦計畫正接受國會的嚴格審查。(中國船舶資訊中心 劉娟)

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2008-07-23/1232512841.html
美國海軍稱放棄繼續建造最新型驅逐艦計畫
http://www.sina.com.cn 2008年07月23日 12:32 新華網

　　新華網華盛頓7月22日電 (記者 楊晴川　王薇) 美國參議院軍事委員會成員柯林斯22日說，由於眾議院不同意繼續撥款，美國海軍決定放棄繼續建造最新型高科技DDG-1000“朱姆沃爾特”級導彈驅逐艦的計畫。

　　美國海軍原計劃建造7艘DDG-1000“朱姆沃爾特”級導彈驅逐艦，在2012年投入現役，但因其造價每艘高達26億美元，軍政兩界對這項計畫一直存在很大爭議。

　　目前已有兩艘DDG-1000“朱姆沃爾特”級導彈驅逐艦正在建造當中，參議院已批准建造第三艘的經費，但眾議院軍事委員會表示反對。柯林斯說，正是由於遭到眾議院反對，海軍最終決定放棄繼續建造DDG-1000“朱姆沃爾特”級導彈驅逐艦的計畫。

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080723/ap_on_re_us/stealth_destroyer_2
Sen. Collins: Navy scrapping stealth destroyer

By DAVID SHARP, Associated Press Writer
Tue Jul 22, 9:47 PM ET

PORTLAND, Maine - The Navy has decided to scrap its newest destroyer model after the first two are built in shipyards in Maine and Mississippi, Sen. Susan Collins said Tuesday.

Collins, a Maine Republican, said Navy Secretary Donald Winter called her to tell her the outcome of a meeting of top brass regarding the future of the DDG-1000 Zumwalt destroyer.

Critics say the Zumwalt is too expensive for the Navy to achieve its goal of a 313-ship fleet.

The Navy has been debating whether to build more of the current, and less expensive, Arleigh Burke destroyers. A spokesperson for the Pentagon said it would have no immediate comment on its plans.

The Zumwalt was conceived as a stealth warship with massive firepower to pave the way for Marines to make their way ashore. It features advanced technology, composite materials, an unconventional wave-piercing hull and a smaller crew.

But the warship displaces 14,500 tons, making it 50 percent larger than Arleigh Burke destroyers. And each of the warships will cost twice the $1.3 billion that Arleigh Burkes cost.

Maine's Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics subsidiary, is building one of the ships. Northrop Grumman's Ingalls shipyard in Mississippi is building the other.

The Senate has authorized funding for the third of what was supposed to be seven ships. But the House has balked at funding that ship, which would have been built in Bath.

Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the Navy review of the Zumwalt was triggered by a decision by the committee's House counterpart to reject funding for the third ship.

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2008-07-21/0830512337.html
美國DDG1000驅逐艦造價昂貴海軍準備放棄建造
http://www.sina.com.cn 2008年07月21日 08:30 中國國防科技資訊網

　　據美國防務新聞網站2008年7月14日報導 有消息表明美國海軍將放棄先進但價格極其昂貴的DDG 1000“朱姆沃爾特”級驅逐艦的建造，並在建造兩艘該型艦以後結束該級艦的建造。

　　首批兩艘驅逐艦是在2007年批准建造的，通用動力公司和諾斯羅普•格魯曼公司將於2008年夏季開始各建造一艘該型艦。第三艘艦已經被列入2009年的預算申請中，目前的計畫是共建造7艘該型艦。但是該艦的建造成本一直在每艘33億美元左右徘徊，而且據外界預計可能超過50億或者更多。即使建造成本較低，該型艦也是水面艦艇建造中價格最為昂貴的。

　　國會預算局和政府問責署的預算分析家們認為該專案的預算是難以承受的，不建造其餘5艘艦可以節約大約250億美元。海軍對這一計畫表示沉默。海軍對DDG 1000專案的支持一直是十分冷淡的，在公然支持的同時，海軍已經著手停止該艦的進一步生產。

　　國會方面表示，海軍需要保護潛艇和近海戰鬥艦這樣的專案，使它們不會因為DDG 1000成本超支而經受預算裁減的危險。相對于大型驅逐艦，海軍希望保護CG(X)巡洋艦。但是並沒有準備很快建造巡洋艦。海軍計畫要求首艦在2011年投資，但是目前海軍沒有選擇設計方案，海軍高級官員表示該專案可以推遲到2015年。

　　國會議員正在要求建造更多的DDG51驅逐艦。海軍官員沒有明確表示只建造兩艘DDG 1000驅逐艦，但是卻聲明需要保護其他艦艇專案。海軍發言人表示目前海軍正在編制2010年的專案目標備忘錄――一個主要的預算計畫檔。海軍部分將在本月提交國防部辦公廳。

　　國會在討論2009年預算中對第三艘DDG1000驅逐艦的建造問題時意見也並不統一。參議院則批准了這項申請。而眾議院卻表示推遲該艦的建造。兩院還將召開會議進行討論。眾議院海上力量小組委員會主席泰勒將于7月31日舉行聽證會，屆時關於DDG1000驅逐艦的問題將進一步明朗，政府問責署正在對該專案進行另一項關鍵審查。(中國船舶工業綜合技術經濟研究院 於紅)

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3626171&c=SEA&s=TOP
DDG 1000 Destroyer Program Facing Major Cuts
By christopher p. cavas
Published: 14 Jul 19:30 EDT (23:30 GMT) 

Indications are growing that the U.S. Navy is poised to forgo further construction of the advanced but very expensive DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers and end the program at two ships.

Eliminating five DDG 1000s could save as much as $25 billion. (Northrop Grumman) Those first two destroyers were authorized in the 2007 budget, and shipbuilders General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman will begin construction of each ship this summer. A third ship is in the 2009 budget request, and current plans call for a total of seven Zumwalts.

But the price tag for the ships is staggering: $3.3 billion per copy according to Navy planners, over $5 billion and more by outside estimates. Even at the lower price, they would be the most expensive surface combatants ever built. With the Navy's shipbuilding program considered unaffordable by budget analysts at the Congressional Budget Office and Government Accountability Office (GAO), eliminating five ships could save as much as $25 billion.

On the record, Navy officials are mum about their plans. Service support for the DDG 1000 program has been lukewarm at best, and while publicly supporting the ships, Navy leaders behind the scenes have worked halt further production.

The move still awaits blessing from on high, sources said, including approval from Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the White House.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead "holds his cards real close," said one Congressional source. "But read the body language. He knows he's in trouble with the DDG 1000s. That ship is going to cost anywhere from $1.5 billion to $3 billion more than advertised. And when that happens there's no slush fund. The only billpayer is Navy shipbuilding."

The Navy, said the congressional source, needs to protect other programs such as submarine and littoral combat ships from being cut to pay for potential DDG 1000 cost overruns.

Instead of the big destroyer, the Navy also hopes to protect the CG(X) cruiser, a bigger combatant designed to protect aircraft carrier battle groups and provide ballistic missile defense.

Roughead, the Congressional source said, "has his eyes on the cruiser. He's trying to make sure that ship is a national asset," the source said.

But the cruiser won't be ready to build anytime soon. Navy plans officially call for the first ship to be funded in 2011, but no design has been chosen and leaders admit the CG(X) will be delayed - at least to 2015, some say, and maybe beyond.

In the meantime, the Navy and its shipbuilding partners need more ships to build, and Congress - particularly House Seapower subcommittee chairman Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., who's district includes the sprawling Northrop Grumman Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula - has urged construction of more DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyers.

The Navy in past years steadfastly argued against more DDG 51s, but service leaders seemingly have had a change of heart. In March, then-Navy acquisition chief John Thackrah confirmed the service was analyzing the construction of more DDG 51s, and Roughead - in private - seems to have embraced the idea as well.

Northrop's Ingalls yard and the General Dynamics shipyard at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, currently build DDG 51s, the last of which is to be completed in 2013.

A Navy official would not confirm the moves to curtail DDG 1000 production at two ships, but noted the need to protect other shipbuilding programs.

"We need traction and stability in our combatant lines to reach 313 ships, and we should not raid the combatant line to fund other shipbuilding priorities," Lt. Clayton Doss, a Navy spokesman at the Pentagon, said July 14.

Doss noted the program of record remains in place for DDG 1000, and Congress has yet to pass a new defense bill.

"Until the 2009 National Defense Act is signed by the president it is inappropriate to comment," Doss said.

Work on the new Program Objective Memorandum for 2010 - a key budget-planning document - is ongoing, Doss said. "Service inputs are to be submitted to the Office of the Secretary of Defense later this month. While it would be inappropriate to discuss internal budget discussions, it is fair to say that, as one would expect, the Navy is discussing all options to develop the surface ship force for the future that will meet all identified requirements."

Congress already is split on whether to authorize the third DDG 1000, requested in the 2009 budget. Senate authorizers have approved the request, while the House wants to delay the ship. The issue now awaits resolution in conference.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, whose district includes Bath Iron Works, is perhaps the DDG 1000's strongest supporter on Capitol Hill. Aware of faltering Navy support for the ship, she and Sen. John Warner, R-Va., sent a letter July 10 to Navy Secretary Donald Winter urging him to continue support "without restriction," for the ships.

Collins has been trying to beat back the House move to delay the Zumwalts.

"The decision by the House Armed Services Committee to slash funding for the DDG 1000 has triggered a review within the Department of Defense on the future of the new destroyer," she said July 14 in a statement released by her office. "During the past several weeks, I have had extensive discussions with CNO Roughead, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, and Defense Assistant Secretary John Young about the future of the program, which Navy officials have repeatedly testified provides much-needed capabilities."

But Collins also seems to be accepting that additional DDG 1000s won't be built.

"If the Navy is considering changing its shipbuilding requirements, I would expect the CNO to work with me and other members of the Senate Armed Services Committee to ensure a stable, well-funded shipbuilding plan that meets the need for expanded capabilities and keeps our skilled shipbuilding workforce strong."

A scheduled July 10 meeting between England, Winter, Roughead and Young to discuss DDG 1000 was postponed when Young was called to testify before Congress on an Air Force tanker program. Sources on Capitol Hill and the Pentagon said the meeting was to be a discussion of staying "on message," and not getting ahead of official decisions. The meeting has been rescheduled for later this month.

The DDG 1000 issue will get a further airing when Taylor holds a Seapower subcommittee hearing on July 31, and the GAO is at work on another critical review of the program.

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2008-05-13/0745499798.html
美國眾議院考慮停止未來新型驅逐艦開發

http://www.sina.com.cn 2008年05月13日 07:45 中國船舶工業綜合技術經濟研究院

　　《佛吉尼亞領航報》5月9日報導 一個重要的眾議院小組委員會打算對海軍造船專案進行檢查，停止未來新型驅逐艦的開發，並把25億美元的開發資金用於其他正在建造的艦艇項目中。

　　該計畫於週四上午提出，將批准國會在下一年度建造12艘艦艇或著手於相關的建造工作，這比布希政府於2月提出的請求多出4艘，同時該計畫還將使海軍領導在決定怎麼分配資金方面有了更大的考慮空間，儘管最終可能只在原有的計畫上增加兩艘艦艇。眾議院希望他們的計畫能在本月末訂下來，該計畫與參議院軍事裝備委員于上周發佈的提議相差很大，參議員們表示希望DDG-1000項目能繼續進行下去，這個項目自90年代初以來一直是美海軍領導最優先考慮的專案。DDG-1000驅逐艦裝備有各種電腦控制的系統，同時其人員配置是目前“阿利•伯克”(Arleigh Burke)級驅逐艦上330人的一半還少。國會已經對前2艘新型艦艇進行了投資，但是眾議員武裝部隊委員會海上力量小組委員員會主席吉恩•泰勒(Gene Taylor)表示，該項目還基於許多不太明確的技術，這將很可能導致成本的增加，從而減少海軍的造船經費。泰勒指出，建造第三艘DDG-1000驅逐艦的資金能讓海軍建造一艘“聖•安東尼奧”級兩栖運輸艦和另外兩艘補給艦。暫停DDG-1000的建造還能節省4億美元資金，海軍可以利用這些資金進行新型驅逐艦設計的優化研究或者將這些資金作為預付定金多建造兩艘“阿利•伯克”級驅逐艦。

　　眾議院計畫簽署在2009年建造另外一艘“佛吉尼亞”級攻擊型潛艇的提議，並提議在2010年建造兩艘，比國會計畫多出一艘。預計每年建造2艘潛艇的計畫在2010年開始實施以前，2011年的潛艇建造數量仍將為一艘。諾思羅普•格魯曼公司紐波特紐斯船廠與位於康涅狄格的通用動力公司均獲得潛艇合同。眾議院方面表示，修訂後的建造計畫不會減少潛艇的建造數量，但卻能減小兩家船廠的工作壓力。

　　眾議院小組委員會還提議將美海軍水面作戰艦艇安裝核動力推進系統，並表示新一代兩栖艦的設計將採用核動力裝置。美海軍的潛艇和航空母艦全採用核動力推進系統，但是軍隊領導卻反對其他戰艦上採用原子能推進，其原因是建造成本太高。美國眾議院武器裝備部隊委員會Roscoe Bartlett表示，石油的供給目前存在很多不確定因素，並且價格已經超過125美元一桶，而且還有繼續上漲的趨勢，因此採用核動力系統勢在必行。(中國船舶工業綜合技術經濟研究院 吳小蘭)

http://hamptonroads.com/node/464221
House panel reconsiders development of new destroyer

By Dale Eisman
The Virginian-Pilot
© May 9, 2008
WASHINGTON

A key U.S. House subcommittee wants to overhaul the Navy's shipbuilding program, pausing development of a futuristic new destroyer and shifting its $2.5 billion cost to a variety of other ships already in production.

The plan, unveiled in a meeting Thursday morning, could permit the Pentagon to build or begin work on as many as 12 ships next year, four more than the Bush administration requested in February.

The proposal gives Navy leaders considerable flexibility in deciding how to reallocate the money, however, so it might end up adding just two ships to the administration plan, staffers of the seapower subcommittee acknowledged.

The House plan, expected to reach the floor later this month, contrasts sharply with a Senate Armed Services Committee proposal released last week. Senators want to continue the DDG-1000 destroyer program, which has been a top priority for Navy leaders since the mid-1990s.

The DDG-1000 ships are to be loaded with a variety of computer-controlled systems and designed to operate with crews less than half as large as the 330 needed for today's Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

None of the ships in dispute is built in Hampton Roads, but Northrop Grumman, which builds submarines and aircraft carriers in Newport News, has a major stake in the new destroyer through its yard in Pascagoula, Miss.

Lawmakers already have funded two of the new ships, but Rep. Gene Taylor, the Mississippi Democrat who chairs the House panel, argued Thursday that the program depends on unproven technologies and is likely to experience cost overruns that "will cripple the Navy shipbuilding account."

Taylor said that by withholding funds for a third DDG-1000 sought by the Pentagon, the Navy could build an additional San Antonio-class amphibious transport and commit to two additional supply ships. The "pause" on DDG-1000 construction also would free up $400 million that Navy leaders could apply to refine the new destroyer's design or use as a down payment on two more Arleigh Burke destroyers, Taylor said. Northrop Grumman's Pascagoula yard, which is in Taylor's district, is one of two that builds the Burke ships.

The House plan endorsed the administration's proposal for construction of an additional Virginia-class attack submarine next year but recommended two subs - one more than the Pentagon plans - in 2010. The boost would be offset by a drop to one sub in 2011 before moving to a two-per-year schedule in 2012.

Northrop Grumman's Newport News yard shares sub contracts with a General Dynamics yard in Connecticut. While the revised construction schedule would not change the number of subs to be built, House staffers said it would smooth out the workload in both yards.

The House subcommittee's proposal also would continue to push the Navy toward using nuclear propulsion for its surface combatants, ordering that designs for a next-generation amphibious ship provide for nuclear power. The Navy's submarines and aircraft carriers are all nuclear, but service leaders have resisted using atomic power on other ships, citing high construction costs.

With oil supplies uncertain and prices passing $125 per barrel and headed higher, the "break-even" point for nuclear power is rapidly approaching, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., told colleagues.

"It is time for us to act," he said.

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2008-05-13/0745499797.html
美眾議院希望停建DDG-1000重啟阿利-伯克項目

http://www.sina.com.cn 2008年05月13日 07:45 中國船舶資訊中心

　　據航空航太與防禦報告日誌2008年5月9日報導 美國會海軍防務授權者正在通過立法來暫停DDG-1000驅逐艦專案(只維持兩艘首艦)，重啟DDG-51專案、確保第十艘LPD-17及 兩艘“路易斯克拉克”級乾貨彈藥補給船(T-AKE)。

　　這些變動都超出了海軍2009財年官方預算。美國眾議院武裝部隊委員會(HASC)海上力量和遠征小組委員會均同意批准從T-AKE項目中轉移3億美元到“維吉尼亞”級潛艇項目。如果獲得立法通過，海軍在2010財年將會建造2艘攻擊型潛艇，而在目前海軍長期造艦計畫中，2010財年和2011財年分別只建造一艘潛艇，從2012年開始每年建造兩艘。

　　海上力量小組委員會主席吉恩•泰勒在5月8日稱：“海軍在請求所謂的313艘艦艇計畫時向立法者提供的資訊並不充分，而且有誤導”。“實現313艘艦艇建造計畫的唯一途徑就是建造設計成熟的艦艇，並且增加這些艦艇的建造數量，提高船廠的效率”，吉恩•泰勒稱。

　　在今年2月27日的海軍造艦計畫聽證會上，已經有多名代表提出要中止第三艘DDG-1000專案，改而建造其他艦艇。

　　海上力量立法為水面作戰艦艇提供了4億美元的先期採辦經費，從而使得海軍在選擇繼續DDG-1000項目還是重啟DDG-51項目上具有靈活性。但是，海上力量小組委員會強烈催促海軍重啟DDG-51專案。委員會成員認為DDG-51可以成為設計海軍規劃中的CG(X)巡洋艦的橋樑，因為CG(X)的船體是DDG-51船體的擴大版，並且CG(X)動力只相當於新的“福特”級核動力航母(CVN-78)的一半。(中國船舶資訊中心　張曉進)

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2008-03-09/0951489209.html
大口徑艦炮重返海戰舞臺威力媲美戰術導彈

http://www.sina.com.cn 2008年03月09日 09:51 青年參考

　　本報特約記者　萬鈞

　　據法國航宇防務網2月27日報導，英國國防部最近開展的一項論證指出，155毫米以上的大口徑艦炮將重新回到皇家海軍的戰艦上。眾所周知，大口徑艦炮向來被視為大艦巨炮時代的標誌。那麼，在航空母艦與導彈類武器占統治地位的今天，這種早已走進歷史的“古董”為何重返海戰舞臺？

　　萬炮齊發不再有

　　任何軍用裝備的存在都和特定的戰術要求有關。冷戰結束後，隨著蘇聯解體與俄羅斯實力的衰退，爆發大規模海上衝突的幾率減小，在自身掌握絕對制海權的前提下，西方國家開始將注意力轉向沿海區域，“由海向陸”的戰略思想由此產生。基於普通火炮威力偏小，巡航導彈又過分昂貴的現狀，各國軍方需要一種高效費比的攻擊手段來摧毀陸地目標，這就為大口徑艦炮的“復活”提供了契機。

　　對於艦用大口徑火炮，許多人的印象是來自戰爭電影或紀錄片，無論是對地面攻擊，還是艦隊海戰，戰列艦、巡洋艦等艦載大口徑火炮齊射的場面蔚為壯觀。但同幾十年前相比，下一代大口徑艦炮無疑更有“技術含量”，它不僅能夠滿足“火力猛烈、射擊精確、反應迅捷”的基本要求，更可以方便地融入三軍聯合作戰體系，從而實現火力支援、縱深打擊乃至持續封鎖的目的。再者，得益於GPS定位技術和現代資訊技術的幫助，未來的艦載火炮更加突出“一擊即摧毀”的能力，這也意味著那種萬炮齊發的壯觀景象將不再出現。

　　值得注意的是，各國海軍已經裝備或正在研發的大口徑艦炮，無一例外地採用了155毫米口徑。之所以選用這個口徑，首先是考慮到它的威力要大於現有的艦炮，其次還可借鑒陸軍火炮的現成技術，以降低研製風險、簡化後勤並節省資金。另外，155毫米炮彈的體積較大，這也為日後的升級改進工作提供了便利。

　　美艦炮像戰術導彈

　　美國海軍對新技術的發展動向始終保持著敏銳的洞察力。早在上世紀70年代，美軍就曾開發過MK71型203毫米艦炮，只是由於缺少合適的搭載平臺而未能列裝。近年來，隨著一系列新型艦艇的陸續登場，其對於大口徑艦炮的重視又達到了前所未有的程度。

　　僅以即將開工建造的DDG-1000“朱姆沃爾特”級驅逐艦為例，該艦將在前甲板安裝兩座由BAE系統公司設計的“先進艦炮系統”(AGS)。這種155毫米炮擁有62倍身長(口徑的62倍)的炮管，最大射速12發／分，並配有隱形炮塔與全自動彈藥庫，射程最遠可達185公里。彈藥方面，AGS預計配備衛星制導的“遠程攻擊彈藥”(LRLAP)、對艦攻擊彈藥和普通炮彈共計900餘枚。此外，該炮還擁有一項“獨門絕技”，即通過調整炮彈的飛行軌跡，保證先後出膛的多發炮彈在同一時刻命中目標，從而達到令對手猝不及防的效果。

　　超遠的射程和出色的精度，令AGS擁有同戰術導彈一較高下的實力。根據美國海軍的設想，搭載大口徑艦炮的DDG-1000未來將以浮動堡壘般的姿態遊弋于敵國的近海，隨時準備向對方的政治、經濟與軍事目標實施打擊。

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin/client/modele.pl?session=dae.29470247.1189675018.zNjVVX8AAAEAAGm2F2wAAAAH&modele=jdc_34
Study May See Navy Get Increased Firepower

(Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Feb. 26, 2008)
 
The return of the six-inch (15cm) gun to Royal Navy warships could be on the cards as a study into increasing firepower on surface ships reaches its next phase. 

A team from across BAE Systems has been awarded the second phase of an MOD study programme to integrate a 155mm gun on future warships. The study will also assess fitting the more powerful system to existing ships. 

If successful, and assuming continued funding, the new gun could potentially replace the current 4.5 inch (11cm) weapon which is a standard fit on the Navy's fleet of destroyers and frigates and has been the customary weapon for much of the last 30 years. 

Commander Clive Murgatroyd of Above Water Effects in the MOD's Equipment Capability organisation says the 155mm gun project is part of a programme to satisfy a naval fire support requirement: 

"This requirement cannot be met by the current 4.5 inch [11cm] gun which is limited in range and precision," he said. 

"This would mean moving to the 155mm gun where the Royal Navy could take advantage of improvements in 155mm technology in the land domain, while realising whole life cost reductions by using the same munitions as the Army. 

"The first and second phases are aimed at de-risking some of the challenges of replacing the 4.5 inch [11cm] ordnance with 155mm in the exisiting 4.5 inch [11cm] Mk 8 Mod 1 mounting, such as barrel heating mitigation, automated handling and loading of munitions and charge ignition. 

"The team at BAE Systems Land Systems, Barrow-in-Furness, is making good progress, and has already designed some elegant engineering solutions, making the return of a 6 inch (15cm) naval gun look more viable as each phase progresses," he added. 

Led by CORDA, BAE Systems' specialist consultancy arm, and the company's Land Systems business, the study will be delivered in conjunction with QinetiQ, Surface Fleet Solutions and Integrated System Technologies. 

BAE Systems is also exploiting the breadth and depth of experience in wider business units such as Armament Systems in the US and Bofors in Sweden to ensure the UK customer benefits from its global corporate experience: 

"This research could provide the Royal Navy with access to a more capable and wider range of munitions and allow them to benefit from land sector investments in 155mm calibre," said Samir Patel, CORDA's programme manager. 

"The conversion will also present opportunities for significant through-life support savings as the Army and Royal Navy could potentially use a common stock." 

John Kelly from BAE Systems' Land Systems, added: 

"This programme not only has the potential to provide the Royal Navy with a low-cost route to a significant enhancement in capability but will ensure a uK based industrial artillery design and manufacture capability is sustained." 

During the first study phase, valued at £1.5M, CORDA examined a low risk route to fitting an AS90 self-propelled howitzer ordnance onto the existing 4.5 inch (11cm) Mk8 Mod 1 gun mounting structure. 

The second phase, worth around £700,000, will build on this research and examine in more detail some of the technology risks of the proposed solution. Should this phase of research prove successful, a further work package will be undertaken this year to perform initial land-based firing trials. 

The last Royal Navy ship to boast 6 inch (15cm) guns was the cruiser HMS Blake, laid down in 1944 but not commissioned until 1969 and broken up in 1982. She was the last cruiser in Royal Naval service. 

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http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=136438
U.S. Navy Awards Northrop Grumman $1.4 Billion Contract to Build DDG 1001; Deckhouse for DDG 1000

PASCAGOULA, Miss., Feb. 14, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Navy today awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a $1.4 billion cost plus incentive fee contract for the construction of a Zumwalt-class destroyer, DDG 1001, as well as major components for the DDG 1000. The contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, a newly-formed company sector comprising the former Ship Systems and Newport News shipbuilding sectors.

"This contract award provides the groundwork that will help define the future of U.S. Navy shipbuilding," said Mike Petters, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. "Our involvement in this program highlights our traditional expertise and success in building surface combatants."

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Gulfport facility will build the composite deckhouse for all DDG 1000 class destroyers; this award includes the construction of the deckhouse for DDG 1000.

"The award marks another key milestone in our continuing program execution beginning with the validation of breakthrough technologies," said Brian Cuccias, Northrop Grumman vice president of DDG 1000. "These technologies will be incorporated in this destroyer and bring an advanced level of fighting capability to the Navy and Marine Corps. With a shift in focus to more composite structures in naval applications, our Gulfport, Miss., facility becomes an important factor in the success of the DDG 1000 program."

This award enables construction of DDG 1001 to begin in the fourth quarter of 2009, with an expected delivery date of 2014. Fabrication of the DDG 1000 deckhouse will start in the fourth quarter of 2008.

DDG 1000 is the first in a class of new U.S. Navy multi-mission surface combatants tailored for the littoral, air and sub-surface warfare. These ships will operate as part of a joint maritime fleet, assisting Marine strike forces ashore. DDG 1000's flexible design, unmatched stealth and precision volume strike make this ship an important asset to the U.S. warfighter.

The DDG 1000 class ship displaces approximately 15,000 tons, is 600 feet long, has a beam of 86 feet, a navigational draft of 28 feet and a ship's crew of 148, including the aviation detachment.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $32 billion global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.