LCS buys may be smaller

The Office of Secretary of Defense reportedly wants to limit the number of Littoral Combat Ship purchases to 24, way below the Navy's goal of 52 ships. That's what sources told the Defense News. That would end procurement with the fiscal 2015 budget. The Navy is countering with a no-lower-than 32 ship purchase number. (Source: Defense News, 09/02/13) Gulf Coast note: Purchases are divided between Independence class ships built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., and Freedom class ships built in Wisconsin.