Inside the Navy highlights

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

1. A top Navy official defended the service's contracting approach on the Littoral Combat Ship last week, after the Government Accountability Office and a lawmaker criticized the share of costs the Pentagon pays for defects and overruns.

Full Story: Navy defends contracting approach for Littoral Combat Ship

2. Despite President-elect Donald Trump's goal of building toward a 350-ship Navy, the service's immediate priorities under an increased budget would be catching up on ship and aircraft maintenance, as well as buying more strike fighters and munitions.

Full Story: Maintenance, modernization are Navy's priorities under higher topline

3. The Navy is drafting a contract proposal for a new batch of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft that includes a contingency for as many as 20 additional aircraft that could be sold to yet-to-be named foreign buyers, setting the stage for billions of dollars in potential additional orders for Northrop Grumman.

Full Story: Draft contract for E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes includes option for significant FMS orders