Navy Plans

Lieutenant General Jeffrey W. Oster
(USMC Deputy Chief of Staff Programs and Resources)
26 February 1997

Before the Subcommittees on Military Procurement and Research and Development
of the House National Security Committee on Navy Shipbuilding Overview

Mr. Chairman, distinguished members of the Subcommittee, thank you for this opportunity to discuss the Department of the Navy's shipbuilding programs and the fiscal year 1998 budget request. It is an honor and a pleasure to appear before you.

Shipbuilding Plan Overview

The cornerstone of our shipbuilding plan for the Future Years Defense Program in fiscal years 1998 through 2003 is full funding of all of the ships in the plan, including all of our submarines and the tenth and final NIMITZ class aircraft carrier, the CVN 77. Key factors used in developing our plans for the future are the number of ships now in the fleet - approximately 354 ships and submarines - and their average age.