Congress Targets Littoral Combat Ship Survivability In NDAA

[unhappycamper]

http://breakingdefense.com/2013/12/congress-rebukes-navy-littoral-combat-ship-in-ndaa-but-doesnt-slow-it-down/



The two variants of the Navy Littoral Combat Ship — LCS-1 Freedom and LCS-2 Independence – side by side off the California coast.

Congress Targets Littoral Combat Ship Survivability In NDAA
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
on December 13, 2013 at 3:00 PM

~snip~

Instead of restricting spending on the program until the Pentagon gives an official, in-depth answer to Congress’s questions – the usual formula – the NDAA language makes two distinct and separate demands. The first is an official review by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, a Pentagon body composed of the vice-chiefs of the armed services and generally considered a rubber stamp – but a very slow and ponderous one.

The second, harsher requirement is for a “coordinated” evaluation of the LCS test program not only by the Pentagon’s acquisition chief but also by the independent Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, which is famous for its harsh assessments of the LCS and other weapons.

DOT&E must specifically sign off on the LCS’s survivability in combat, which is perhaps the single most controversial aspect of the relatively lightweight vessel, and one DOT&E has criticized in the past. It also must examine the LCS’s mechanical and electrical breakdowns (“casualties” in Navy-speak), which have been a major blight on the Pacific deployment of the first Littoral Combat Ship, the USS Freedom.

But what’s the pain put on the program until it passes these tests? Not that much, in truth. The bill would prohibit spending any money for “construction or advanced procurement of materials” for LCS 25 and LCS 26. But Littoral Combat Ships 5 through 12 are still under construction, while ships 13-16 are “in pre-production phase.” LCS 17-24 are still awaiting Congressional authorization. 25 and 26 are a long way in the future, and if there’s any impact on their production it won’t be felt for years – and there’ll be plenty of opportunities to make up for lost time.



unhappycamper comment: A brief history of the Littoral Combat Ship:


The Navy's Bluewater plan (has disappeared from the internets) that defined the LCS also stated it would cost arounf $200 million each. LCS-1 cost $584 million; LCS-2 was $704 million.

Our congresscritters, in their infinite wisdom said "Oh my, these are expensive" and promptly ordered another 24 of them.

Brilliant. Just fucking brilliant.