U.S. Lawmakers Warn Navy On Ship Costs

The Navy has issued a stop-work order on the LCS 3 after talks with its builder, Lockheed Martin, stalled. Here, the first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS 1) makes a spectacular side launch during her christening at the Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wis., in September. U.S. Navy

From Reuters:

* Lawmakers warn shore-hugging ships may be in jeopardy

* Navy says ships are needed, reforms being implemented

* Panel chairman frustrated by Navy response (Recasts first paragraph, adds lawmakers)

By Andrea Shalal-Esa

WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers grilled Navy officials on Tuesday about massive cost growth and delivery delays in a new coastal warship program, but Navy officials said they remained committed to buying 55 of the ships and cutting future costs.

"Everyone should understand that the current situation of these vessels costing in excess of a half billion dollars cannot continue," Representative Gene Taylor, the Democratic chairman of the seapower subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, said at a hearing on the new warship.

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My Comment: This is the lawmakers preparing the ground for future cuts in the Navy .... the sad part of this episode is that the lawmakers are right.