THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 7, 1995 TAG: 9506070508
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHRISTOPHER DINSMORE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
In a move that could pose a threat to Newport News Shipbuilding, the Navy is considering options to nuclear power for its next generation of aircraft carriers.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jeremy Boorda directed a Pentagon study group looking at ideas for the next generation of aircraft carriers to seriously examine options to nuclear power, according to a report in Defense Daily, a respected defense industry newspaper.
If the Navy opts for a non-nuclear propulsion system, the next carriers could possibly be built by shipyards other than Newport News Shipbuilding.
Carriers have been the backbone of the giant Peninsula shipyard's business for the past few decades, providing much of the work for its more than 19,000 employees. The shipyard built all seven of the Navy's nuclear-powered carriers and three more are in various stages of construction there.
Newport News officials appeared unruffled by the Navy's study, the results of which are expected next year.
``Newport News Shipbuilding understands and supports the Navy's stated plan to consider all options for the design of its next aircraft carrier,'' the yard said in a statement. ``This includes the possibility that the ship's propulsion system might not be nuclear. That's the prudent approach considering severe restraints on the budget.''
Some Congressional sources speculated privately that by publicly reassessing its nuclear carrier program now, the Navy is trying to pressure Newport News Shipbuilding into dropping efforts to compete for the first ships in a new line of nuclear attack submarines.
The yard has made some progress in its congressional lobbying campaign to force the Navy to let it bid to build some of the new attack submarines. Open bidding would disrupt the Navy's industrial base plan of maintaining two nuclear-capable private shipbuilding yards - Newport News to build aircraft carriers and Electric Boat for submarines.
Boorda may be sending a message to Newport News that the Navy may not have to buy its next carrier from the shipyard. Newport News is scheduled to deliver the last carrier ordered, CVN-76, in 2002.
Newport News is the only shipyard in the nation capable of building nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, but several other U.S. shipyards could build a carrier with a gas turbine, diesel or steam propulsion system.
One senior Navy official insisted Tuesday that ``this is not a ploy.'' Given the $5 billion price tag for nuclear carriers, Boorda felt the service had to at least consider cheaper alternatives to nuclear power, the official said.
Even if the Navy opts for a non-nuclear system, Newport News would likely be a front runner to build new carriers.
``Whatever the outcome of the future carrier study, Newport News looks forward to the opportunity to compete for the carrier's design and construction,'' the yard's statement said. ``Whatever the Navy requires, we expect to be responsive.''
Newport News may be the only shipyard with the drydock capacity to build a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, which is 1,040 feet long and displaces more than 90,000 tons fully loaded. If the Navy sticks with large carriers, it may have to stick with the Peninsula shipyard.
Newport News is also at the forefront in research for an electric drive system, which could be a big advantage for it even if the Navy opts for a non-nuclear system.
The Navy study group on the future carrier is looking at a lot more than propulsion systems. It's considering possible future missions for the carrier; new designs, some incorporating stealth technology, and a host of other issues.
The biggest issue in deciding on new carriers may be the needs of whatever aircraft will be flying off them in the future.
When it comes to the propulsion system, nuclear power offers some great advantages to conventional power. It saves room that would otherwise go to fuel for armaments, people and planes. A reactor also doesn't need to be refueled for more than a decade, whereas a conventional ship needs to be continuously refueled.
But new gas turbines are very fuel efficient. And there's the ever-pressing question of what to do with the spent nuclear fuel from shipboard reactors. MEMO: (Staff writer Dale Eisman contributed to this report.)
by CNB