The Government Accountability Office wants to temporarily halt funding to construct new Littoral Combat Ships, but one of your Congressman doesn’t think that’s the best course.
We first told you Monday about the GAO report questioning the survivability and lethality of the new ship design. Some of those shortfalls have been agreed upon by the Navy, which is currently in the process of redesigning the LCS. That adapted design will be applied to some of the ships the Navy will acquire, and those will be known as Fast Frigates. The GAO is concerned, however, that we're moving forward with constructing the LCS under the questioned design, without knowing how much it will cost to retrofit the ships with the needed improvements.
Congressman Ander Crenshaw tells WOKV that he supports a constant review of the ship’s capabilities, but disagrees with the GAO recommendation.
“We live in dangerous times, and the only way to make America safe is to make America strong. I do not believe suggestions for delays or cutbacks in ship production are wise. Our current national security demands require more Navy vessels, not fewer. That means a robust and forward-moving ship production schedule for our fleet,” Crenshaw says in a statement.
He says the LCS is not the first program to face “tough questions during Navy testing”, but those other programs have been successful in the end.
“The LCS and Fast Frigate play an imperative part in the Navy’s national security presence around the globe,” he says.
Crenshaw- who serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense- says he will wants to continue working with the Navy to better understand the retrofitting needs, but will continue to ensure servicemen have the tools and resources they need.
Naval Station Mayport is slated to be the East Coast homeport for the LCS, with the first one coming in 2016 and eight projected through 2020. An LCS Support Facility recently opened on base, and two more buildings for LCS operations are in the works.
