Inside the Navy highlights

Some must-reads from this week's issue of Inside the Navy:

1. The Navy intends to award four to six conceptual design contracts this quarter for the guided-missile frigate replacement program and will then downselect to one vendor.

Full Story: Navy to downselect to one vendor for future frigate competition

2. The Navy will begin a private shipyard optimization plan and will begin reaching out to industry through the summer for input.

Full Story: Navy begins private shipyard optimization plan while eying 355-ship fleet

3. The Navy has created an executive steering council composed of key stakeholders to ensure unmanned maritime systems fit into the service's vision of the future fleet.

Full Story: Navy establishes executive steering council to approve unmanned efforts