THE 2014 YEARBOOK: NAVY SHIPBUILDINGShip construction programs move ahead, but it’s not smooth sailing.U.S. NavyBy Edward Lundquistavies and Coast questration, continuing resolutions and the following six priorities. “Number Guards everywhere government shutdowns. Even so, there one is the sea-based strategic deterrence. face budgetary pres- are ongoing major construction efforts to Number two, forward presence. Three, sure, even in the U.S. include large nuclear aircraft carriers and the capability and the capacity to win which has the largest submarines, amphibious ships, destroy- decisively. Number four, the readiness Navy in the world. ers and smaller combatants, albeit with to do that. Number ? ve, to sustain our NThe littoral combat ship Pre-Commis-The balance between desire for capacity compromises in quality, quantity and ca- asymmetric capabilities and our techno-sioning Unit (PCU) Coronado (LCS 4) and capability and pressure for afford- pability. logical edge. And number six, to sustain is rolled-out at the Austal USA assem-ability has never been more acute with To prepare the Navy’s program within a relevant industrial base. Using these bly bay. Coronado is scheduled to be the precarious budgetary issues pre- the ? scal constraints, Chief of Naval priorities, we build a balanced portfolio christened Jan. 14, 2012 and will un-sented by declining defense budgets, se- Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert set of capabilities within the ? scal guid-dergo sea trials later this year.(U.S. Navy photo courtesy Austal USA/Released) 28 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • JUNE 2014MR #6 (26-33).indd 28 5/29/2014 9:10:52 AM