2015’s Biggest Military Boondoggles: Mistakes That Are Killing Our Confidence in the Armed Forces

2. The Bungled Propulsion System

In early December, the Navy’s shiny new Freedom-class combat ship, the USS Milwaukee, saw the total shutdown of its propulsion systems a mere 20 days after it was commissioned. The ship was built by Lockheed Martin, a name you’ll see more than once on this list, who explained that repairs to the Milwaukee could take several weeks. Senator John McCain responded by saying, “I expect the Navy to conduct a thorough investigation into the root causes of this failure, hold individuals accountable as appropriate, and keep the Senate Armed Services Committee informed.”