Navy Nuclear Powered Surface Ships

Contents: (1) Intro. and Issue for Congress; (2) Background: Nuclear and Conventional Power for Ships; Nuclear Power for a Surface Combatant; Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program; Current Navy Nuclear-Powered Ships; CG(X) Cruiser Program; Reactor Plant for a Nuclear-Powered CG(X); Construction Shipyards; Nuclear-Capable Shipyards; Surface Combatant Shipyards; 2006 Navy Alternative Propulsion Study; (3) Potential Issues for Congress: Cost; Development and Design Cost; Procurement Cost; Operational Effectiveness; Ship Construction; Shipyards; Nuclear-Propulsion Component Manufacturers; Environmental Impact; (4) Potential Options for Congress; (5) Legislative Activity for FY 2010. Charts and tables.

All of the Navy's aircraft carriers, but none of its other surface ships, are nuclear-powered. Some Members of Congress, particularly on the House Armed Services Committee, have expressed interest in expanding the use of nuclear power to a wider array of Navy surface ships, starting with the CG(X), a planned new cruiser that the Navy had wanted to start procuring around FY2017. Section 1012 of the FY2008 Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4986/P.L. 110-181 of January 28, 2008) makes it U.S. policy to construct the major combatant ships of the Navy, including ships like the CG(X), with integrated nuclear power systems, unless the Secretary of Defense submits a notification to Congress that the inclusion of an integrated nuclear power system in a given class of ship is not in the national interest. The Navy studied nuclear power as a design option for the CG(X), but did not announce whether it would prefer to build the CG(X) as a nuclear-powered ship. The Navy's FY2011 budget proposes canceling the CG(X) program and instead building an improved version of the conventionally powered Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class Aegis destroyer. The cancellation of the CG(X) program would appear to leave no near-term shipbuilding program opportunities for expanding the application of nuclear power to Navy surface ships other than aircraft carriers.

This report addresses the issues surrounding the controversy over nuclear versus conventional power in major strike force surface combatant ships. The report discusses various cost and effectiveness factors involved and identifies the key issues for congressional attention.

The U.S. Navy plans to build a number of new surface ships in the coming decades according to its most recent 30-year shipbuilding plan. All of the Navy's aircraft carriers are powered by nuclear reactors; its other surface combatants are powered by engines that use conventional petroleum-based fuels. The Navy could save money on fuel in the future by purchasing additional nuclear-powered ships rather than conventionally powered ships. Those savings in fuel costs, however, would be offset by the additional up-front costs required for the procurement of nuclear-powered ships. This book examines the cost-effectiveness of nuclear power for navy surface ships and the issues and options for Congress.

Reviews progress of nuclear propulsion research and application of technical developments to naval construction program.

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