Navy seeks $1.5B in unfunded priorities

The Navy is requesting $1.5 billion in unfunded priorities with the bulk going to ship maintenance, according to the service's fiscal year 2019 unfunded priorities list.

The service is seeking $176 million for shipyard investment acceleration for public shipyards and $121 million for a graving dry dock repair.

The request "funds an upgrade to the existing Naval Base San Diego graving dry dock to accommodate the DDG-51 class," according to the document. "Upgrades include the addition of a SONAR PIT, dry dock electrical and de-watering modification and dredging of the channel to accommodate the ship's draft."

Other highlights include an additional two E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes to accelerate the planned buy for $340 million and $109 million for EA-18G Growler cognitive electronic warfare "transitioning reactive electronic attack measures." The E-2Ds will enable the early transition of two Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School E-2Cs in Fallon, NV, giving them the needed assets to develop advanced tactics, which supports the National Defense Strategy.

The Growler funds include a special mission pod, which is a new-start acquisition program to address emergent U.S. Pacific Command operational gaps, according to the service.