Navy Ship Propulsion: Viability of New Engine Program in Question
NSIAD-96-107
Published: Jun 07, 1996. Publicly Released: Jun 07, 1996.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Navy's intercooled recuperated (ICR) engine program, focusing on the: (1) Navy's need for the engine; (2) cost, schedule, and performance of the program; and (3) impact of the Navy's test and development strategies.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should reassess the Navy's continuing need for the new ICR engine. In doing so, the Secretary should carefully consider how current agreements with U.S. allies affect the program, identify what effect the Navy's ongoing efforts to restructure and rebaseline the ICR program will have, and determine what the Navy's surface combatant ship future requirements actually are. |
Using a congressional plus-up of $17.7 million, the Navy completed the essential portions of the ICR gas turbine test program and transferred the development program to the United Kingdom and France.
|
| Department of Defense | If it is determined that the ICR engine program should continue, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to not use the engine in the DDG-51 destroyer. |
While DOD did not concur with this recommendation, the Navy decided in early 1997 to not use the ICR engine in the DDG-51 as GAO recommended.
|
| Department of Defense | If it is determined that the ICR engine program should continue, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to determine total program costs for developing and acquiring the engine relative to the Navy's requirements for future surface combatant ships, including costs for U.S. test facilities and/or pilot ship engine testing. |
Using a congressional plus-up of $17.7 million, the Navy completed essential portions of the ICR gas turbine test program and transferred the development program to the United Kingdom and France.
|
| Department of Defense | If it is determined that the ICR engine program should continue, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to prepare a facility use plan for the U.S. test site. |
The Congress has added $17.7 million to the fiscal year 2000 Navy budget request to complete essential portions of the ICR gas turbine test program. Once this is accomplished, the development program will be transitioned to the United Kingdom and France for management of the qualification program. The United States will remained engaged to ensure that qualification testing complies with U.S. navy requirements.
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| Department of Defense | If it is determined that the ICR engine program should continue, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to prepare a test plan and schedule for the engine that provide sufficient assurance that it can transition from development to production and be realistically available for use in any U.S. ship. |
The Congress has added $17.7 million to the fiscal year 2000 Navy budget to complete essential portions of the ICR gas turbine engine test program. Once this is completed, the development program will be transitioned to the United Kingdom and France for management of the qualification program. The United States will monitor the program to ensure that qualification testing complies with U.S. requirements.
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Cost analysisMilitary vesselsPropulsion systemsNaval procurementNaval warfareResearch and development costsShipbuilding industryTestingWeapons systemsU.S. Navy