The guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) transits the Atlantic Ocean. Truxtun will be the sole hybrid destroyer in the fleet for the time being because the Navy is moving to cancel the program aimed at making destroyers more fuel efficient. (MC3 Danny Ray Nunez Jr./Navy)
Defense News: US Navy canceling program to turn gas-guzzling destroyers into hybrids
WASHINGTON — The Navy is canceling a program to install fuel-efficient hybrid electric drives in 34 destroyers, leaving only one destroyer with the technology, the Navy confirmed in a statement.
Citing “department priorities,” the service requested $6.3 million for 2018 to finish the installation on the destroyer Truxtun, but has zeroed out funding in 2019 and in the out years. The service has spent about $52 million on the program to date. The whole program was expected to cost $356.25 million, according to the Navy’s FY2017 budget submission.
“Based on the Department’s priorities, President’s Budget 2019 removes funding from Hybrid Electric Drive program in FY 2019,” said Lt. Lauren Chatmas in a statement. “There are no further procurements or installations planned beyond DDG-103 in the Future Years Defense Program.”
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Update: US Navy cancels program to install fuel-efficient hybrid electric drives in 34 destroyers due to 'department priorities' (Daily Mail)
WNU Editor: Everyone is acknowledging that there is a problem with this technology ... specifically the intense electrical load that running the drive system on the ship’s two running generators was putting on the ship. But even with this problem(s) .... they were still prepared to install this system on 34 destroyers?!?!? Where I come from .... you take one prototype .... you work out the problems .... and once solved, that is when you install the technology. But in this case .... someone in the Navy made the decision to install this tech on 34 destroyers even though everyone knew that it was not performing as planned and promised.
