Norfolk, Va. - The Navy outlined more details on what proposed budget cuts will do to the service if Congress doesn't act soon, and the numbers aren't pretty.
The Navy released a planning document this afternoon showing listing the cuts that will happen if a budget for this year isn't passed and additional forced cuts kick in on March 1.
The Navy will cancel next year's planned deployment of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, and close four of its nine carrier air wings. Re-activating the air wings would take 9-12 months and cost 2-3 times as much as their regular operations.
Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to deploy Thursday
Other cuts listed in the document include:
- Cancelling more testing of the vertical take-off version of the F-35(B) onboard the USS Wasp, further delaying that program.
- Ending most operations in South America and Europe.
- Ending carrier strike group workups for the USS Ronald Reagan and USS Carl Vinson.
- Keeping more submarines in port for extended times.
- Ending Fleet Weeks and air shows around the country, including an appearance by the Blue Angels in Virginia Beach.
- No Amphibious Ready Groups would be available in the latter part of 2013 into 2014 for emergency missions.
- Navy Civilians could lose up to 20% of salary through a furlough
- Training programs for midshipmen, flight officers and new pilots would be cut almost in half.
The service has already announced many cost-cutting measures, including cancelling the deployment of the carrier USS Harry S. Truman and delaying the mid-life overhaul of the USS Abraham Lincoln.
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