Navy getting serious about LSCs

WASHINGTON – The Navy is planning to kick off a five-year research, testing and design effort for its next generation of large surface combatant (LSC) in 2021, according to budget documents. The program is looking to install older, proven systems into a new hull design incorporating flexibility and growth capabilities for the future, according to Navy those same documents. The effort will be significant when they start decommissioning cruisers. The Navy is requesting $46.45M for FY-21, but funding is likely triple in 2022 and afterwards. The service asked for a request for information in 2019, but the FY-21 request is the first time the Navy has requested significant funds for its next generation of heavy warships. The Navy is beginning to develop system requirements for the program and a preliminary design, which should cap off with a requirement review in the second quarter. The process should begin to incorporate industry designs, which will head to a preliminary review by the third quarter of 2025. The Navy intends to start building the ships in the late 2020s, USNI News reported in January. Initially, the goal for the LSC is to use the systems designed for the DDG 51 Flight III Arleigh Burke Class destroyer – the Air and Missile Defense Radar, Aegis Baseline 10 – and install them on the new hull. (Source: Defense News 02/13/20) Gulf Coast Note: USS Jack H. Lucas (DG 125) is being constructed at HII-Pascagoula, Miss., and its commissioning is expected to 2023. https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/02/13/the-us-navy-is-looking-to-get-serious-about-a-next-generation-large-surface-combatant/