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Summary:
The Navy is currently developing technologies and studying design options for a planned new cruiser called the CG(X). The Navy wants to procure a total of 19 CG(X)s as replacements for its 22 existing Ticonderoga (CG-47) class Aegis cruisers. The Navy wants to procure the first CG(X) in FY2011 and the second in FY2013. The Navy wants the CG(X) to be a highly capable multi-mission ship with an emphasis on air defense and ballistic missile defense (BMD). Section 1012 of the FY2008 defense authorization act (H.R. 4986/P.L. 110-181 of January 28, 2008) makes it U.S. policy to construct the major combatant ships of the Navy, including the CG(X), with integrated nuclear power systems, unless the Secretary of Defense submits a notification to Congress that the inclusion of an integrated nuclear power system in a given class of ship is not in the national interest. The Navy has studied nuclear power as a design option for the CG(X), but has not yet announced whether it would prefer to build the CG(X) as a nuclear-powered ship. Procurement of a nuclear-powered CG(X) in FY2011 would, under normal budgeting practices, involve funding the ship's long-leadtime nuclear-propulsion components in FY2009. The Navy's proposed FY2009 budget requests $370 million for research and development work on the CG(X). The Navy's proposed FY2009 budget does not request any advance procurement funding for the first CG(X). The House Armed Services Committee, in its report (H.Rept. 110-652 of May 16, 2008) on the FY2009 defense authorization bill (H.R. 5658), recommended approval of the Navy's FY2009 funding request for research and development work on the CG(X). The Senate Armed Services Committee, in its report (S.Rept. 110-335 of May 12, 2008) on the FY2009 defense authorization bill (S. 3001), recommended reducing the Navy's FY2009 funding request for research and development work on the CG(X) by $120.8 million. The report stated that, due to the Navy's continued review of the CG(X) Analysis of Alternatives (AOA), CG(X) program activities planned for FY2008 and FY2009 cannot be executed according to the schedule in the FY2009 budget request. The CG(X) program raises several potential oversight issues for Congress. Congress has several options relating to the program. This report will be updated as events warrant.
