Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Oversight Issues and Options for Congress

Abstract

The Navy is procuring a new class of surface combatant called the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). The first LCS was procured in FY2005, another three were procured in FY2006, and two more were procured in FY2007. Current Navy plans call for procuring three LCSs in FY2008, and then about six per year in FY2009- FY2016, for a planned total of 55 ships. The LCS is a small, fast surface combatant that uses modular plug-and-fight mission packages, including unmanned vehicles (UVs). The ship's mission orientation can be changed by changing out its mission packages. The basic version of the LCS, without any mission packages, is referred to as the LCS sea frame. The LCS's primary intended missions are countering enemy mines, submarines, and fast attack craft in littoral (near-shore) waters. Secondary missions include intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); maritime intercept; special operations forces (SOF) support; and logistics support for movement of personnel and supplies. The LCS is also mentioned in connection with the Navy's role in what the Bush Administration refers to as the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 30, 2006
Accession Number
ADA458842

Entities

People

  • Ronald O'Rourke

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Boats
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Littoral Combat Ships
  • Logistics Support
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • Naval Vessels
  • Navy
  • Procurement
  • Program Management
  • Ships
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Unmanned Vehicles
  • Vehicles
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs