Navy

House lawmakers are proposing a measure to halt funding for development of a submarine-launched hypersonic strike weapon, a move that would upend Navy plans to develop a Conventional Prompt Strike weapon, citing concerns about the potential for miscalculation by adversaries that might mistake the planned new capability for a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile.

A House panel is enthusiastically backing the Navy's proposal to adapt a scaled-down version of the SPY-6 radar for the bulk of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer fleet, directing the service to draft a plan on the cost and technical feasibility of swapping out the legacy SPY-1 radar on the DDG-51 Flight IIA variants with a smaller version of the larger SPY-6 designed for the DDG-51 Flight III variant.

House lawmakers are proposing significant oversight of the F-35 program and the Air Force's plan to buy new F-15EX aircraft -- calling for more insight into the Joint Strike Fighter's Block 4 effort and recommending the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps develop a joint service cost position for the program.

Lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee, acting on concerns the Defense Department is investing too little in science and technology, have drafted legislation that would mandate accountability should the S&T portfolio be cut in the future.

The House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee is aiming to repeal the cost caps currently in place on the Navy's new Ford-class aircraft carriers, arguing the caps have not successfully maintained cost.

Acting Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist said today he is optimistic about the chances for Congress to eventually reach a bipartisan budget agreement, but only because the alternative is unthinkable.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford said today the Pentagon should be cautious about increasing the size of the military at the expense of investments in new technologies critical to maintaining longstanding advantages over China and Russia.

Despite the Navy's efforts to convince lawmakers to make major investments in unmanned technology, House appropriators are proposing funding cuts for several high-profile programs in their fiscal year 2020 defense spending bill.

The Senate Armed Services Committee's fiscal year 2020 defense policy bill will authorize the Navy to purchase two Virginia-class submarines, but calls on the service to revise its strategy for the acquisition program, according to a summary of the bill released today.