STUDY OF EARLY DECOMMISSIONING OF TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

SEC. 1223. STUDY OF EARLY DECOMMISSIONING OF TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS (a) Requirement for Study.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a comprehensive study comparing— (1) the current plan of the Department of Defense under which one existing aircraft carrier would be decommissioned when the U.S.S. George Washington (CVN73) is commissioned in fiscal year 1992 and a second existing aircraft carrier would 101 STAT. 1159 be decommissioned when the next aircraft carrier (CVN74) is commissioned in fiscal year 1997, with (2) an alternative plan under which one existing aircraft carrier would be decommissioned and one existing Navy air wing would be deactivated when the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln (CVN72) is commissioned in fiscal year 1990 and a second existing aircraft carrier would be decommissioned when the aircraft carrier U.S.S. George Washington (CVN73) is commissioned in fiscal year 1992. (b) Matters to Be Included.—In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall determine the implications of adopting the alternative plan described in subsection (a)(2) for aircraft carrier retirements, as compared to the implications of the current plan described in subsection (a)(1), with respect to each of the following: (1) Total direct and indirect costs in outlays and in budget authority (stated in constant fiscal year 1988 dollars) through fiscal year 1997. (2) Requirements of the Navy for naval aircraft through fiscal year 1997 (assuming that the aircraft from the deactivated naval air wing are reassigned in the active force). (3) Requirements of the Navy for active-duty and Reserve personnel (stated in terms of fiscal year end strengths) through fiscal year 1997. (4) Requirements for naval surface ship combatants and support ships through fiscal year 1997. (5) The cost and feasibility of making available to the active fleet for operation during a time of national emergency— (A) an aircraft carrier that is in the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP); and (B) an aircraft carrier that has been decommissioned but is still under the jurisdiction of the Navy. (c) Peacetime Deployment Commitments.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall direct the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to assess the implications that accelerated aircraft carrier retirements in accordance with the alternative plan described in subsection (a)(2) would have on the ability of the United States to meet both peacetime aircraft carrier deployment commitments and the wartime requirements for aircraft carriers set forth by the commanders of the unified combatant commands and to report to the Secretary the results of that assessment. (2) Insofar as the report required by paragraph (1) notes a deficiency between peacetime aircraft carrier deployment requirements and the number of deployable aircraft carriers, the report shall also include an assessment regarding— (A) how aircraft carrier deployment strategies could be adjusted or changed to cover commitments while maintaining an equitable distant deployment rotation for personnel and equipment considerations; (B) what alternative combinations of ships and aircraft might be deployed to substitute for an aircraft carrier, either permanently or temporarily, in all situations in which aircraft carriers are currently deployed; and (C) what special considerations will accompany the eventual removal of the U.S.S. Midway from her homeport in Japan. (d) Report.—The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 101 STAT. 1160 containing the results of the study conducted by the Secretary under subsection (a) and a copy of the report submitted to the Secretary under subsection (c). The Secretary’s report shall include such comments and recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate and shall be submitted not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.