FEDERALhearing transcript

Navy Plans for Transitioning from Littoral Combat Ships to Frigates

Original title: [H.A.S.C. No. 115-42] - Littoral Combat Ships and the Transition To Frigate Class

January 1, 2018

National Defense Navy Shipbuilding Littoral Combat Ship Frigate Military Procurement

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The Frame

What this does

The transition affects long-term national defense spending and the composition of the U.S. naval fleet, specifically balancing the $1.8 billion cost of destroyers against the $550 million cost of littoral combat ships.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

U.S. Navy

The Navy must manage the transition between ship classes and define new technical requirements for future procurement.

Austal and Marinette Marine

These companies are the primary shipbuilders for the LCS program and are impacted by changes in production requirements and future frigate contracts.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2018.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This House Armed Services subcommittee hearing examined the U.S. Navy's strategy for transitioning from the current program to a new frigate class. The discussion focused on balancing fleet capabilities, managing shipbuilding costs, and refining technical requirements for future .

Key Facts

The Navy is currently producing Arleigh Burke-class destroyers at a cost of $1.8 billion per ship.
The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is currently produced at a cost of $550 million per ship.
The Navy is planning a transition from the current LCS program to a new frigate class.
The subcommittee identified a need for increased survivability, longer cruising range, and more development margin for future expansion in new ship designs.
The subcommittee suggested that a reduction in top speed may be acceptable to optimize other ship capabilities.
The Navy intends to conduct a formal review of requirements for both the LCS and the future frigate.
The hearing took place on May 3, 2017, in the Rayburn House Office Building.

Why It Matters

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Navy moving from Littoral Combat Ships to frigates?

The Navy is reviewing requirements to ensure the fleet has the correct balance of capabilities and costs, noting that the current LCS program faces challenges with requirements stability and technology integration.

What are the main concerns regarding the current Littoral Combat Ships?

The subcommittee noted issues with requirements stability, the integration of , and the need for better survivability and cruising range.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Shift in Speed Requirements

The subcommittee explicitly suggested that the Navy may need to sacrifice top speed in future ship designs to gain better survivability and range.

U.S. Navy

Connected Entities

personRobert J. Wittman“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces”Map →

personJohn P. Neagley“Rear Admiral, USN, Program Executive Officer, Littoral Combat Ships”Map →

organizationAustal“Shipbuilder for the Littoral Combat Ship”Map →

personRonald A. Boxall“Rear Admiral, USN, Director, Surface Warfare (N96)”Map →

organizationMarinette Marine“Shipbuilder for the Littoral Combat Ship”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy30
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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