Senators call for more LCS buys

Eight U.S. senators from four states with interests in Littoral Combat Ships has petitioned Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to find money for three new LCS in next year’s FY-18 defense budget. In a letter Friday, the senators representing Alabama, Florida, Michigan, and Wisconsin requested SECDEF hold to LCS requirements in the Navy’s December 2016 Force Structure Assessment. The letter was from Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio of Florida; Richard Shelby and Luther Strange of Alabama; Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin; and Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. The assessment was a reversal of then-SECDEF Ashton Carter’s mandate to cut the LCS/future frigate program from 52 to 40 ships and select one of the two shipbuilders by FY-19. The Independence-class LCS is built by Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala.; and the Freedom-class in Marinette (Wis.). The Navy plans to base 13 Freedom-class ships at Naval Station Mayport, Fla. One of the Freedom-class ships, USS Detroit, is named for Michigan’s capital. (Source: Military.com 04/28/17)