Rapid Fire April 2, 2013: CNO on State of US Navy Budget

• Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Greenert updated the US Navy on the state of their budget with a series of short videos. There’s a shortfall due to sequestration, but it’s not as bad as it was prior to the FY13 CR/Appropriations bill. “[P]riorities will be funding reimbursables, reconciling our FY13 operations, preparing to meet our FY14 plans, and restoring required base operations and routine maintenance.” The Navy’s Military Sealift Command also posted updated furlough guidance.

• US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) intends to procure later this year commercial software to replace its paper-based work instructions for ship repair work during depot maintenance and overhaul.

• The GAO reviewed the Pentagon’s controversial procurement of Mi-17 helicopters from Russia for end use by the Afghan Air Force.