Well, just so we’re clear, John Phelan does not have any Naval experience.

There has been considerable discussion of what Phelan gifted we taxpayers as SecNav, on a Navy focused board on FB. The Constellation class frigate program was running years behind, and far over budget. The cost of a Connie had inflated to $1.4B, by the time Phelan cancelled the contract with Fincantieri, replaced with a contract for a gussied up Coast Guard cutter, from Huntington Ingalls.

The gussied up cutter lacks a VLS system, no means of carrying RIM-66 "Standard" surface to air missiles, and no anti-submarine capability. And what does this smaller and less capable ship cost? Preliminary estimate $1.4B/ship, the same as the larger, more capable, Connie. The mind boggles at how much *that* price will escalate by the time they start cutting steel.

So, how big of a bribe did HII pay?

That must be why his nibs wants that $1.5T/year "defense" budget: to provide more money, for more corruption.

Steve