A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is about $8 billion more expensive to operate over a 50-year period than a conventionally powered carrier, but offers no greater operational advantage, according to a recently released US General Accounting Office report. The Congressional watchdog says that the US Navy must resolve the powerplant issue before it begins building the first next-generation CVX-78 class aircraft carrier in fiscal year 2006. The study estimates life-cycle costs for conventionally powered and nuclear powered carriers to be $14 billion and $22 billion, respectively, but concludes that there was little difference in their operational effectiveness in past combat operations.
Source: Flight International
