[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 69 (Tuesday, June 7, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       CENTURION ATTACK SUBMARINE

 Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, in January, the Defense 
Acquisition Board [DAB] met to consider whether the Centurion attack 
submarine was ready to move from concept definition to demonstration 
and validation. The DAB adjourned without decision. Instead, Under 
Secretary of Defense Deutch has issued a memorandum that is a concise 
thorough summation of the cost and technical questions that still 
linger over the Navy's plans for the Centurion. Before milestone I is 
approved, Mr. Deutch's thoughtful concerns must be addressed.
  The importance of this process cannot be overemphasized. There is 
deep concern in some quarters that the Navy has done little more than 
pay lip service to the notion of affordability in its development of 
the Centurion. The fact that the Navy wrapped Centurion around a 
reactor that was conceived years before, with goals other than 
affordability paramount, and that that reactor then drove the gross 
design characteristics of the Centurion, gives any thoughtful observer 
pause.
  The Navy has repeatedly put the per unit cost of Centurion at $1.5 
billion, but that is at a rate of 1.5 ships per year. The President's 
5-year defense plan projects a Centurion building rate of .5 ships per 
year. It is not difficult to imagine Centurion climbing well over the 
$2 billion mark, a level that killed the Seawolf.
  The point of the Centurion is to avoid a repeat of the Seawolf 
debacle. One way to impress affordability upon the collective mind of 
the Navy is by mandating a design to cost approach, as part of the DAB 
process, or through legislation. Colleagues have argued, however, that 
this will not work. The FFG-7 used a design to cost approach, and the 
class remains a leper within the Navy. I have been persuaded that there 
is a better way. Tomorrow, I will discuss that alternative strategy at 
some length.

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