Jon Harper, National Defense: Advanced Frigates Could Edge Out LCS Program
The Navy’s controversial littoral combat ship program could be cut short in the coming years as policymakers look for a platform with greater capabilities.
Current plans call for acquiring 40 LCS and LCS-based frigates. Navy officials want at least 52 of the vessels in the fleet. But questions linger about their survivability, mission packages and platform design.
“With 26 ships delivered or under contract, the LCS program again stands at a crossroads,” the Government Accountability Office said in a recent report to Congress.
The Navy has requested funding for two additional ships in fiscal year 2017. Lawmakers will soon need to decide whether to authorize a block buy for 12 more, as the Navy has proposed, the report said.
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WNU Editor: What money is available is going to dictate the future of this program (and others).