Research Brief
Why Have Navy Ship Costs Risen?
Jul 18, 2006
A Macroscopic Examination of the Trends in U.S. Naval Ship Costs Over the Past Several Decades
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Over the past several decades, the increases in acquisition costs for U.S. Navy amphibious ships, surface combatants, attack submarines, and nuclear aircraft carriers have outpaced the rate of inflation. To understand why, the authors of this book examined two principal source categories of ship cost escalation: economy-driven factors (which are outside the control of the Navy) and customer-driven factors (features for which the Navy has the most control). The authors also interviewed various shipbuilders to find out their views on other issues contributing to increasing costs. Based on their analysis, the authors propose some ways the Navy might reduce ship costs in the future, including limiting growth in features and requirements and reconsidering the mission orientation of ships. It is recognized, however, that such reductions come at a cost, since the nation and the Navy understandably desire technology and capability that is continuously ahead of their competitors.
Chapter One
The Growth of Ship Costs
Chapter Two
Historical Cost Escalation for Ships
Chapter Three
Sources of Cost Escalation for Navy Ships
Chapter Four
Industry Views on Ship Cost Escalation
Chapter Five
Options for the Navy to Reduce Ship Costs
Chapter Six
Conclusion
Appendix A
Ship Classes Included in the Multivariate Regression Analysis
Appendix B
Multivariate Regression for Ship Cost
Appendix C
RAND Questions to Each Firm
Appendix D
Cost Escalation Over the Past 15 Years
Appendix E
Passenger Ship Price Escalation
The research described in this report was prepared for the United States Navy. The research was conducted in the RAND National Defense Research Institute, a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Unified Combatant Commands, the Department of the Navy, the Marine Corps, the defense agencies, and the defense Intelligence Community.
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