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GAO-06-789R 1 (2006-07-06)

handle is hein.gao/gaocrptatpj0001 and id is 1 raw text is: i= i Accountability * Integrity * Reliability United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548 July 6, 2006 The Honorable Roscoe G. Bartlett Chairman Subcommittee on Projection Forces Committee on Armed Services House of Representatives Subject: Propulsion Systems for Navy Ships and Submarines Dear Mr. Chairman: In recent years, the Navy has used nuclear propulsion systems for its submarines and most aircraft carriers and conventional propulsion systems that rely on fossil fuel for its surface combatants and amphibious warfare ships. As the Navy looks to design an affordable force that is capable of meeting future security challenges, some of the assumptions and factors that have guided past Navy decisions on propulsion systems may require reassessment. For example, technological advances have enabled greater efficiency in both nuclear and conventional propulsion systems. Moreover, the cost of fossil fuel has risen sharply in recent years. You requested that we review the Navy's assessment of alternative propulsion methods for submarines and surface combatants. Our objectives were to determine (1) the status and scope of key Navy studies on alternative propulsion methods, (2) the major improvements to existing propulsion systems, (3) near-term and future ships' propulsion systems, and (4) the various ship propulsion related technologies the Navy is pursuing. In March 2006, we provided you with a briefing of our findings regarding propulsion systems for Navy ships and submarines. This report summarizes the results of that briefing as well as additional work we performed since that time, and transmits the briefing slides with the updated information. (See enc.) Because of command changes at both the Naval Sea Systems Command and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and other factors, the Navy has not completed two ongoing studies. As a result, we were not able to assess the results of these studies. To determine the status and scope of the Navy studies on alternative propulsion methods, the major improvements to existing propulsion systems, and the various ship propulsion-related technologies the Navy is pursuing, we reviewed and analyzed Navy and outside research organizations' analyses and our prior report related to propulsion systems for Navy ships and submarines. We also discussed propulsion systems with officials from the Naval Sea Systems Command, the Office of Naval Research, the Office of Naval Reactors, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Surface Warfare GAO-06-789R Navy Propulsion Systems

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