NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — The shipyard that builds the aircraft carriers says it could save the country money if it builds three at once.
Newport News Shipbuilding added that concurrently constructing carriers also reduces construction time.
The Virginian-Pilot reports the top admiral has called for greatly expanding the fleet. The service has 275 ships, and he wants to increase that number to 350.
Newport News shipping says it could save $1.5 billion for every three carriers built at the same time. Construction time would decline for each one by up to two years.
The Congressional Budget has estimated that bringing the to 355 ships would cost $5 billion a year for 30 years. However, those figures don’t include extending the lives of some ships, which leadership has proposed.
Information from: The Virginian-Pilot
