FY-21 shipbuilding down; LCSs retired

The Navy is moving ahead with plans to build a 355-ship fleet, but its FY 2021 construction budget requests for ships will be cut by $5.6B. The Navy will spend $16.4B on two new subs, two destroyers, a next-generation frigate (FFG-X), an amphibious transport dock, and two towing, salvage and rescue vessels. The Navy is requesting $161B overall, including base and overseas contingency funds, but down $2.9B compared to FY-20 when it bought 12 ships. Navy and Marine leadership is completing a force-structure assessment to lay out a path to 355. The Navy is also planning to invest in state-of-the-art unmanned ships: $200M is requested for two more large unmanned surface vessels. The Navy also plans to send several "less-capable" platforms into early retirement. That includes the first four Littoral Combat Ships, which the Navy turned into non-deploying test ships in 2016, according to a Navy official familiar with the plan. Budget documents state a dock-landing ship will also be sent into early retirement. (Source: Military.com 02/10/20) Gulf Coast Note: Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., built LCS-2 (Independence) and LCS-4 (Coronado). Defense Department releases FY 21 budget. https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2079489/dod-releases-fiscal-year-2021-budget-proposal\