https://www.stripes.com/news/navy/federal-watchdog-flags-issues-with-stealth-warships-built-at-maine-shipyard-1.581603

PORTLAND, Maine (Tribune News Service) — A federal watchdog agency has again flagged issues with high-tech warships built at Bath Iron Works as the shipyard aims to finish work on the three vessels ordered by the Navy.

After 20 years and spending more than $25 billion, the Navy will have three new ships without a usable weapon system or a defined role in the U.S. fleet, the Government Accountability Office said.

Among other issues is that the Navy has not found a replacement ammunition for the ships' main gun, after deciding its specialized ammo, at $800,000 per round, was too expensive.

"As a result, the guns will remain inoperable on the ships for the foreseeable future," the report said. The Navy is considering another $1 billion to outfit the ships with cruise missiles for surface attacks.

Developing the ships has cost $11.8 billion, almost five times the $2.5 billion estimated in 1998, the GAO report said. The total cost for each ship, including research and development, was $8.4 billion as of last year, seven times more than expected when the program started

The report is not surprising for industry insiders, but the fact that the warships have no combat systems or a usable weapon could raise eyebrows in the general public, said Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.