DEPUTYSECRETARYOFDEFENSE
1010DEFENSEPENTAGONWASHINGTON,DC20301-1010
MAR282012
TheHonorableHowardP."Buck"McKeonChairmanCommitteeonArmedServicesU.S.HouseofRepresentativesWashington,DC20515DearMr.Chairman:Asrequiredbysection231oftitle10,UnitedStatesCode,Iamforwardingtheannuallong-rangeplanfortheconstructionofnavalvessels.
I
ertifythatboththebudgetforFiscalYear2013andthefuture-yearsdefenseprogram(FYDP)forFiscalYears13-17provideasufficientleveloffundingtoprocurethenavalvesselsspecifiedbytheplanonthescheduleoutlinedtherein.Theplanoutlinesthenavalforcestructurerequirementsthatarederivedinresponsetothenewsetofstrategicprioritiesandguidancecontainedintherecentlyreleased
SustainingUs.GlobalLeadership:Prioritiesfor21stCenturyDefense;
theconstructionplannecessarytomeettheserequirements;andthefiscalresourcesnecessarytoimplementtheplan.TheplanisaffordablewithintheFYDPbutpresentsaresourcingchallengeoutsidetheFYDPlargelyduetoinvestmentrequirementsassociatedwiththeSSBN(X)program.
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ookforwardtoworkingwithyoutoachievetherequisiteinvestmentstosafeguardourNation'smaritimestrengthandendurance.Enclosure
1:
AnnualReporttoCongressonLong-RangePlanforConstructionofNavalVesselsforFY20]3cc:TheHonorableAdamSmithRankingMember