Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The House Armed Services Committee has produced a $680.4-billion defense spending blueprint for next year that would pinch Navy programs but treat the New England shipbuilding industry relatively well.

Most significantly for Electric Boat's shipyards at Groton and Quonset Point, the House authorization bill accepts the Navy's request to buy a new Virginia-class attack submarine - locking in longstanding efforts to accelerate that program to a procurement rate of one submarine per year. The authorization also includes money to research and develop a new line of ballistic missile-firing subs to replace the aging Ohio class. EB, a division of General Dynamics, is the only remaining American shipyard capable of building ``boomers.''

A new DDG-51 class destroyer, to be built at another General Dynamics yard, Bath Iron Works in Maine, is also among the eight new warships in the Navy authorization for next year. The revival of production of these destroyers - known as the Arleigh Burke class - was precipitated by the early cancellation of the DDG-1000, an ambitious new destroyer design troubled by delays and rising costs.

The defense blueprint is scheduled to go to the House floor next week. The Senate Armed Services Committee is still considering its version of the defense bill. Rep. James R. Langevin and Sen. Jack Reed, both Rhode Island Democrats, sit on the military panels in their respective houses.

 Tags  Navy

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