More LCS competition?

The House approved a spending bill that would open the littoral combat ship program to more competition if costs aren’t contained by the two current teams. Under the $550 billion measure, the Navy would get enough money to buy three vessels in fiscal 2010 from Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics, which is working with Austal USA's shipyard in Mobile. If the teams fail to meet a cost ceiling of $460 million per ship, the Navy could develop a technical data package that could be shopped to new bidders. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 06/26/09)