Inside the Navy highlights

Some must-reads from this week's issue of Inside the Navy:

1. A Navy analysis completed last year and sent to Congress in June states the total cost of extending nearly a dozen ship classes between five and 15 years could incur an estimated bill of $203 billion through fiscal year 2047, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

Full story: Analysis: Ship service life extensions could cost Navy $203B through FY-47

2. The Navy intends to accelerate a large unmanned undersea vehicle program by bringing the government's design to industry five years earlier than planned, a plan Senate appropriators are supporting in their version of the fiscal year 2019 defense spending bill.

Full story: Navy plans to accelerate LDUUV design transition by five years

3. The Pentagon's chief technologist says the Defense Department will conduct more hypersonics weapons tests in the coming years compared to the past decade in order to deliver initial capabilities in the early 2020s.

Full story: Tech chief Griffin says DOD will increase hypersonics testing

4. The Navy's second Zumwalt-class destroyer Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) suffered engine damage that has prompted the service to replace that engine before the ship proceeds to San Diego next year, according to an admiral overseeing the ship class.

Full story: Monsoor suffers engine damage, prompting Navy to replace equipment