PORTSMOUTH, VA -- The Navy is planning to send industry a request for proposals by the end of this year for the next-generation surface connector craft, according to the program manager. The service earlier this year awarded design contracts to eight shipyards, respectively, for the Landing Craft, Utility (LCU)-1700 class connectors. The shipbuilders looked at the Navy's technical data package for LCU-1700 and gave a "tremendous amount of feedback," according to Tom Rivers, amphibious warfare program manager at Naval Sea...
