Over threat of cuts, LCS to be part of "brilliant" Mayport future

More than just a budget boost- a sign of a bright future.

I first told you Monday about the Navy’s plan to begin building the infrastructure needed at Naval Station Mayport for the base to become the East Coast homeport for the Littoral Combat Ships.

“If you’re gunna have your ships docked here, homeported here, it just makes sense,” says Florida’s Democratic US Senator Bill Nelson.

During a stop in Jacksonville today, Nelson addressed the future of Mayport. This comes just a day ahead of a stop-in by the Chief of Naval Operations. Looking forward is difficult for some of this leadership given the uncertainty facing military spending with another sequester looming.

“We’re gunna see continued cutbacks in the US military,” Nelson says.

But while he says he will continue fighting against those cuts, some of the shrink could also come with a fundamental shift for the Navy. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recently said he believes the future of the Navy is going to rely too heavily on LCS. Nelson says LCS is the future.

“These ships give us the capability of rapid response and getting in close to shore,” he says.

While it’s still uncertain is Hagel’s plan to scale back the number of LCS the Navy will order will affect the size of the fleet- roughly 14- scheduled to come to Mayport, Nelson believes the Navy is showing no signs of wavering from support for the base.

“Mayport has a very, very brilliant future,” he says.

WOKV will be at Mayport on Tuesday to hear straight from the Chief of Naval Operations about the future of the Navy and the base. Stay with us through Sean Hannity and Andy Dean for the latest.