The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a proposed small surface combatant for the Navy. The LCS program was announced by the Navy in November 2001 as part of a proposed family of next-generation Navy surface combatants that also includes the much-larger DD(X) destroyer and a future CG(X) cruiser. For FY2005, the Navy is requesting $107.7 million to begin building the first LCS, and an additional $244.4 million for research and development for the LCS program. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, modify, or reject the Navy's plan for the LCS program. The Navy has testified that the LCS program is its number one budget priority. Prior to announcing the LCS program, the Navy had no plans to acquire a smaller combatant like the LCS and had resisted proposals for such ships. For a longer discussion of the LCS program, see CRS Report RL32109. This report will be updated as events warrant.
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS): Background and Issues for Congress
2004
7 pages
Report
No indication
English
Management Practice , Business & Economics , Marine Engineering , Logistics Military Facilities & Supplies , Cost estimates , Littoral zones , Naval vessels(Combatant) , Naval procurement , Planning programming budgeting , Shipbuilding , Decision making , Shipyards , Legislation , Missions , Naval budgets , Background , Accounting , Littoral combat ship , Program costs , Cost limitations , Lcs(Littoral combat ship) , Lockheed martin , General dynamics , Procurement costs , Lcs mission modules , Policy options , Research and development account , Scn(Shipbuilding and conversion navy account) , Ship-procurement account , Opn(Other procurement navy account) , Rapid acquisition