No buying strategy yet for LCS-Frigate

WASHINGTON – Details of a buying strategy for the Littoral Combat Ship-to-frigate program is still under a Navy review and will likely fall behind its established submission deadline. Last year, then Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel directed the Navy to develop and turn LCS into some kind of frigate and submit an buying strategy by May 1. The Navy continues to evade specifics or a commitment. Navy has drafted an acquisition strategy framework outlining design and procurement, said Cmdr. Thurraya Kent, spokesperson for the service's acquisition directorate. It also has prepared an assessment for forward- and back-fitting LCS with frigate capabilities. Beginning with hull number 33, LCS are officially being called frigates. Unclear is whether the next eight LCSs to be ordered (numbers 25 to 32) will be classified as frigates or LCS. The Navy is working to back-fit many features of the LCS- frigate into earlier variants, including eight interim ships, but that frigate design remains elusive. Pre-preliminary design and system selection will be made in October, said a Naval Sea Systems Command spokesman. Preliminary design will eventually result in a technical package to support a shipbuilding contract in FY 2019. (Source: Defense News 05/28/15) Gulf Coast Note: Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala., currently builds the Independence class of LCS - one of two LCS variants under contract with the Navy.