Effective competition between industry bidders to build the littoral combat ship (LCS) led the United States’ Navy to discuss with key Defense Committee members and their staff, as well as industry, the possibility of gaining congressional authorization to award each bidder a ten-ship block buy.
Consideration of this option is separate from the ongoing LCS down select process, and if congressional approval for a dual block buy is not received, the Navy will proceed to down select in accordance with the terms of the current solicitation.
Either a down select or a dual ship block buy approach will ensure the Navy procures affordably priced ships.
Unlike the current solicitation, this option would require Congressional action to authorize two block buys by mid-December 2010.
The Navy remains committed to the LCS program and the requirement for 55 of these ships to provide combatant commanders with the capability to defeat anti-access threats in the littorals, including fast surface craft, quiet submarines and various types of mines.
LCS is a fast, maneuverable and networked surface modular warship primarily designed to complement the Navy's larger multi-mission surface combatants in select warfare mission areas, including combating submarine, mine and fast-attack craft threats in the littorals.
Consideration of this option is separate from the ongoing LCS down select process, and if congressional approval for a dual block buy is not received, the Navy will proceed to down select in accordance with the terms of the current solicitation.
Either a down select or a dual ship block buy approach will ensure the Navy procures affordably priced ships.
Unlike the current solicitation, this option would require Congressional action to authorize two block buys by mid-December 2010.
The Navy remains committed to the LCS program and the requirement for 55 of these ships to provide combatant commanders with the capability to defeat anti-access threats in the littorals, including fast surface craft, quiet submarines and various types of mines.
LCS is a fast, maneuverable and networked surface modular warship primarily designed to complement the Navy's larger multi-mission surface combatants in select warfare mission areas, including combating submarine, mine and fast-attack craft threats in the littorals.
