Report to Congress on TAGOS-25 Ocean Surveillance Shipbuilding Program - USNI News

Navy's New Ocean Surveillance Ships Face Delays and Cost Increases

The U.S. Navy's ambitious program to build a new class of ocean surveillance ships is experiencing significant setbacks, with costs ballooning by 81.8% for the first ship and procurement of the second vessel being pushed back by a year. According to a recent Congressional Research Service report, the first TAGOS-25 class ship, now designated as part of the Explorer class, will cost $789.6 million - an increase of $355.2 million from initial estimates.

The Navy attributes the dramatic cost increase to multiple factors, including material inflation, supply chain challenges, and higher non-recurring engineering costs. The program, which aims to replace five aging surveillance vessels with seven larger and faster ships, awarded Austal USA a $113.9 million contract in May 2023 for the detailed design phase, with options that could bring the total contract value to approximately $3.2 billion.

The new Explorer class ships, named in honor of undersea explorers, will feature a distinctive Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) design and will be significantly larger than their predecessors. The first two ships will be named Don Walsh and Victor Vescovo. These vessels play a crucial role in antisubmarine warfare, using sophisticated underwater acoustic sensing equipment to support the Navy's Integrated Undersea Surveillance System.

The Navy's FY2025 budget submission requests no procurement funding for the program, reflecting the delay in acquiring the second ship until FY2026. Congress is now facing questions about the reasons behind the cost growth, the potential for further increases, and why the Navy appears to have adjusted cost estimates only for vessels planned beyond FY2029.

Report to Congress on TAGOS-25 Ocean Surveillance Shipbuilding Program - USNI News

SIDEBAR: Ocean Surveillance Ships: America's Underwater "Eyes and Ears"

The Navy's TAGOS ships play a vital but often overlooked role in protecting U.S. national security by serving as mobile detection platforms in an increasingly contested undersea environment. These specialized vessels are crucial for several key reasons:

Submarine Detection
Using sophisticated towed-array sensor systems (SURTASS), these ships can detect and track submarines at significant distances, providing early warning of potential threats. This capability is particularly important as nations like China and Russia continue to modernize and expand their submarine fleets.

Force Multiplier
Despite their civilian crews (operated by the Military Sealift Command), these ships effectively extend the Navy's antisubmarine warfare capabilities. They act as persistent sensors, allowing more expensive warships and aircraft to respond only when needed rather than constantly patrolling vast ocean areas.

Advanced Design
The ships' unique SWATH design, featuring twin submarine-like hulls connected by struts to the main deck, provides exceptional stability in rough seas. This stability is crucial for operating sensitive sonar equipment and maintaining continuous surveillance operations.

Strategic Necessity
The Navy's decision to replace five aging ships with seven larger and faster vessels reflects the growing importance of undersea surveillance. The new Explorer class ships will be significantly more capable, with a top speed of 20 knots compared to their predecessors' 10-13 knots, allowing them to better respond to emerging threats.

By providing constant monitoring of undersea activities, these ships form a critical part of the U.S. Navy's broader strategy to maintain maritime dominance and protect vital shipping lanes and communication cables that lie on the ocean floor.