Since October 2023, Biden Administration Has Deployed Nearly US$75 Billion In Military Assets To Arabian Sea, Gulf Of Aden, Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, And Through Strait Of Hormoz
Since October 2023, The Biden-Harris Administration Has Deployed Nearing US$75 Billion In Military Assets To The Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, And Through Strait Of Hormoz
The United States Department of Defense (DOD) provided answers to the following questions relating to the value of assets deployed since October 2023 into the Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea.
1) What is the U.S. Dollar value of the two carrier strike groups and the other vessels dispatched to the Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea? Meaning- when each vessel was commissioned, what did each vessel cost?
2) What is the number of aircraft (fixed-wing and rotary) on each vessel and the U.S. Dollar value of each aircraft?
“The below information lists the estimate costs of ship and aircraft and the assets attached to the Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group and the Gerald R. Ford strike group. Costs of ships are a rough estimate based on when they were requisitioned, information was pulled from the Navy fact files, Department of the Navy Budget Documents and a CRS report. If you are looking for additional information, our budget documents can be found at the following location: https://www.secnav.navy.mil/fmc/fmb/Pages/archive.aspx
Sources are hyperlinked below with each platform, all information is provided on background:
DOD- US Ship Cost Estimate:
Cruiser: Navy Fact Files- Unit Cost: About $1 billion each
Destroyer: Annotated on page 67-DDG-51 cost estimates about $2 billion
Nimitz Class Carrier: Navy Fact Files- Unit Cost: About $8.5 billion in constant year FY 12 dollars
Ford Class Carrier: Data found in CRS report: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress. Page 2 of the PDF: CVN-78 (Gerald R. Ford) was procured in FY2008. The ship’s procurement final cost estimated at about $13.3 billion in then-year dollars.
DOD- Ships In The Carrier Strike Groups:
The Gerald R. Ford strike group is comprised of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2, the Information Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60).
The ships of DESRON-2 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), and USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117).
The Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group is comprised of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN69), the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), the guided-missile destroyers USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Gravely (DDG 107) of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22, and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 with its nine squadrons.
GRF - Carrier Air Wing 8: The squadrons of CVW-8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford are the “Tridents” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, the “Bear Aces” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 124, the “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 located in Norfolk, Va., the “Ragin’ Bulls” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, the “Blacklions” a of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213, the “Golden Warriors” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87, the “Tomcatters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31., the “Gray Wolves” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, and the “Spartans” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70.
IKE - Carrier Air Wing 3: Squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, include the “Fighting Swordsmen” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32, “Gunslingers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105, “Wildcats” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131, “Rampagers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83; “Dusty Dogs” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7; “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74; “Screwtops” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 123; “Zappers” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130, and a detachment from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 “Rawhides.”
“CBS News (6 November 2023): “Nuclear-powered submarine: The Pentagon revealed Sunday that an Ohio-class submarine- a nuclear-powered vessel- crossed through the Suez Canal. Ohio-class subs can carry 154 tomahawk cruise missiles. Submarines, sometimes called the "silent service," operate mostly in secret and the release of this information from the Defense Department was deliberate. Other U.S. warships in the Middle East: The USS Mount Whitney command ship has also been sent to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. In the Red Sea, joining the Eisenhower Strike Group, are four warships: Bataan, Carter Hall, Hudner and Carney. The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, recently shot down cruise missiles and drones launched from Yemen that may have been headed toward Israel.”
DOD- For calculations purposes the following is provided on background:
Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD): About $1.36 billion each.
Dock Landing Ship (LSD): About $250 million
Ohio-class SSBN: Ohio-class costs about $2 billion each.
Amphibious Command Ship (LCC): We can provide the annual operating cost of one LCC is about $37 million.
For the DDGs listed, please use the amount previously provided: About $2 billion each.
Additional Related Deployments:
“The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), transits the Strait of Gibraltar and enters the Mediterranean Sea to conduct operations in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, Dec. 14, 2023. Delbert D. Black’s presence demonstrates our commitment, flexibility and capability to operate throughout the region. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. For more than 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with our Allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.”
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), transited the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean Sea to conduct operations in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, Dec. 17, 2023. The Sullivans presence demonstrates our commitment, flexibility and capability to operate throughout the region. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. For more than 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with our Allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.”
DOD- US Aircraft Cost Estimate:
MH-60S: The budget estimates the unit cost of the MH-60S to be $27.25 million each.
MH-60R: The budget estimates the unit cost of the MH-60R to be $38.07 million each.
F/A-18E/F: The budget estimates the unit cost of both variants of the F/A-18 to be $83.88 million each.
E-2D: The budget estimates the unit cost of the E-2D to be $201.1 million each.
C-2: Navy Fact File shows unit cost of the C-2 is $38.96 million each.
EA-18G: Navy Fact File shows unit cost of the EA-18G is $67 million each
References From Media Reporting:
“Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group: The aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower arrived in the Red Sea south of Israel over the weekend. The strike group also includes a guided missile cruiser, two missile destroyers and an entire air wing comprised of helicopters, fighter jets and 5,000 sailors. The strike group is headed toward the Persian Gulf — a clear message directed at Iran — but will most likely remain outside the gulf.
Nuclear-powered submarine: The Pentagon revealed Sunday that an Ohio-class submarine — a nuclear-powered vessel — crossed through the Suez Canal. Ohio-class subs can carry 154 tomahawk cruise missiles. Submarines, sometimes called the "silent service," operate mostly in secret and the release of this information from the Defense Department was deliberate.
Ford Carrier Strike Group: The Ford Carrier Strike Group is currently in the Mediterranean Sea after being sent to the region in late October. The group includes the USS Ford and three ballistic missile defense ships.
Other U.S. warships in the Middle East: The USS Mount Whitney command ship has also been sent to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. In the Red Sea, joining the Eisenhower Strike Group, are four warships: Bataan, Carter Hall, Hudner and Carney. The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, recently shot down cruise missiles and drones launched from Yemen that may have been headed toward Israel.”
“On Sunday (26 November 2023), the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group transited through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Persian Gulf, sending a clear message to Iran about American intentions to defend maritime security. "While in the Arabian Gulf, the IKECSG are patrolling to ensure freedom of navigation in key international waterways while supporting CENTCOM requirements throughout the region," said Central Command in a statement. The carrier's transit through this maritime flashpoint follows shortly after news of attacks on two Israeli-linked vessels, the boxship CMA CGM Symi and the product tanker Central Park.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and her escorts were first dispatched to the Eastern Mediterranean and were expected to relieve USS Gerald R. Ford. However, as Israel's campaign against Iran-backed terrorist organization Hamas continued in Gaza, the Pentagon extended the Ford Carrier Strike Group's deployment. Ford remains on station in the Eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which has previously used rockets and missiles to attack Israel during periods of heightened tension. During the current period of fighting, Hezbollah has not joined the conflict at full scale, though border clashes have occurred.
While Ford remained on station, Eisenhower headed south through the Suez Canal on November 4 (top). She transited the Strait of Bab El-Mandeb and headed onwards to the Arabian Sea, where she could provide deterrence against further Iranian involvement in the conflict. According to USNI, the decision to send Eisenhower through the closely-watched Strait of Hormuz marks a break from recent policy. During the long years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. maintained two carriers in the Persian Gulf to provide air support and deterrence. However, the Navy has not had any carrier presence there since 2021, when Nimitz exited for the last time.”
