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Austal USA frigate design. Austal USA image
THE PENTAGON – The Navy is considering increasing its future frigate’s anti-air firepower and may open up the frigate design competition to hulls beyond the current two small surface combatants, the service told USNI News on Wednesday. Read More
The following is the April 6, 2017 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)/Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
The following is the March 21, 2017 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)/Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
CORRECTION: A previous version of this post had the incorrect size of the LCS main deck gun. Both variants field a 57mm deck gun, not 76mm.
The Navy conducted its first test of a short-range missile system designed to protect a Littoral Combat Ship against swarming threats, Naval Sea Systems Command announced on Tuesday. Read More
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) speaking at the 2016 Arizona Manufacturing Summit at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona on Oct. 16, 2016. Gage Skidmore photo
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) plans to hold hearings on the Navy’s frigate program amidst calls to open the competition to more domestic and foreign designs. Read More
The guided-missile destroyers USS Russel (DDG-59), USS Chung Hoon (DDG-93) and the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) follow the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) during a show of force transit on Aug. 11, 2015. US Navy photo.
The Navy is already conducting wargames in preparation for the Future Surface Combatant family of systems acquisition process to begin later this year, several officials involved said last week. Read More
USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) steams in formation with USS Independence (LCS-2) on Dec. 8, 2016. US Navy Photo
The Navy will need a larger engineering directorate as it grows the fleet in coming years, to avoid problems faced in past ship classes like the Littoral Combat Ship and the Zumwalt guided missile destroyer stemming from the Navy being too hands-off on technical specifications. Read More
The following is the Dec. 8, 2016 Government Accountability Office report, Littoral Combat Ship and Frigate:Slowing Planned Frigate Acquisition Would Enable Better-Informed Decisions. Read More
The future USS Detroit (LCS 7) conducts acceptance trials on July 14, 2016. Lockheed Martin Photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee today questioned the Navy’s ability to ensure a smooth transition from the Littoral Combat Ship to the frigate program, given that current plans would force the Navy to award something akin to a block buy contract for 12 ships even before the first frigate is built and tested. Read More
The following is the Dec. 1, 2016 Government Accountability Office report, Littoral Combat Ship and Frigate: Congress Faced with Critical Acquisition Decisions. Read More
