Since 05-01-04
Sub Force Could Drop If Recon Mission Is Cut
Since 05-01-04
NAVY TIMES 26 APR 04
Sub Force Could Drop If Recon Mission Is Cut
By Christopher Musey
Navy analysts are studying whether portions of the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission performed by attack submarines could be handled by other methods - and whether that means possibly shrinking the future submarine fleet.
Testimony by a top admiral at a Capitol Hill hearing and statements made during the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space Exposition about those studies concerned submarine supporters, who want to maintain a fleet of at least 55 attack boats.
Vice Adm. John Nathman, deputy chief of naval operations for warfare requirements and programs, mentioned the future promise offered by unmanned undersea vehicles, or UUVs, to the intelligence-gathering mission in an April 8 talk at Sea-Air-Space.
In the future, developing other intelligence-collection methods might make more sense than relying solely on submarines, he said.
"Why would you pin a significant platform that costs multiple billions of dollars to basically just being constrained to putting his periscope up to get information," Nathman said. "Are there other ways of doing it?"
Nathman didn't say submarines won't have a future role in intelligence-gathering.
"There are some of those missions that can only be done by a submarine, because of its uniqueness in terms of collection and as a processor," he said.
Testifying about the issue at a March 30 House Armed Services subcommittee hearing, Nathman said two studies are examining force structure requirements for submarines. Speculation about shrinking the attack submarine fleet drew dissenting voices in Congress.
UUVs don't match the "robust" capabilities of submarines, said Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I. UUVs "should not be used as an excuse for reducing the fleet at a time when increased ISR capabilities are critical to fighting the ongoing war on terror," Langevin said.
Currently, the Navy has 54 attack submarines, including 51 Los Angeles-class, two Seawolf-class and the special mission sub Parche.
Virginia, lead ship of a new class of attack submarines, will be commissioned later this year. Nine more are under contract.