LCS decision may bust 1 of builders

The Navy is doing “the best” it can with short-fall funding available for its ship-buying plans and the down-selection for Littoral Combat Ships, acquisition chief Sean Stackley told the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee. He claimed SECDEF’s decision to cut 12 ships from the LCS/Frigate program (52 to 40) and selection of only one of the two builders was “budget-driven”. That decision will likely cause one of the two builders – Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., or Marinette (Wis.) Marine – to go out of business, he indicated. (Source: US Naval Institute News 02/25/16)