Authorizers seeking report on future carrier, amphib air wing compositions

House and Senate authorizers are seeking a report from the Navy about the composition of the next-generation carrier and amphibious ship air wings.

The Navy secretary would have to submit a report to congressional defense committees about "the optimal composition of the [air wing] on aircraft carriers and aviation combat element embarked on amphibious ships in 2030 and 2040, including alternative force design concepts," according to an explanatory statement accompanying the lawmakers' conference version of the fiscal year 2020 defense policy bill.

"Of specific concern that should be highlighted is the logistics impact based on the aircraft carriers' ability to support the specified air wing," the statement continues.

The service would be required to brief lawmakers by March and submit the document to Congress by May.

The House passed the conference version of the policy bill yesterday with a vote of 377 to 48. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week and President Trump has signaled that he will sign it.

Lawmakers also want the Government Accountability Office to conduct a review of the Navy's shipbuilding design practices.

"This review shall include an examination of the Navy's design practices for shipbuilding major defense acquisition programs to assess measures of the lead ship or lead ship of a major ship modification's design maturity and stability sufficient to inform an understanding of the

construction costs and the effort needed to execute the design, and any other related matters," according to the conferees' statement.

The report and a subsequent briefing would be due by April 2020 and January 2021, respectively.

Separately, the conferees would direct the defense and transportation secretaries to submit a report about the government's ability to maintain "adequate U.S.-flagged fuel tanker vessel capacity to support the full range of anticipated military operations" through 2030.

The provision replaced a broader initiative by House lawmakers to establish a new maritime tanking fleet.