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The U.S. Navy took delivery Aug. 28 of the USS New Hampshire (SSN-778), the first Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) to come in under budget and ahead of schedule. On the same day, Navy inspectors recommended that the Pentagon accept delivery of the over-budget and behind-schedule Lockheed Martin design for the new littoral combat ship (LCS). While both programs have had serious issues — especially in terms of cost management — these two developments make for an important benchmark in maintaining the dominance of the U.S. fleet.
The Virginia class will become the mainstay of the U.S. attack boat fleet for much of the 21st century. The SSN is a crucial asset for U.S. maritime dominance, and the delivery of the New Hampshire can only further facilitate faster procurement of a heavily utilized naval asset. Thirty hulls are planned (New Hampshire is only the fifth). Congress is also likely to accelerate production significantly, funding an increase from one hull per year to two ahead of the originally planned date of 2012.
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