Navy mine warfare plan will serve as defense policy bill certification for MCM capabilities

The Navy plans to deliver its mine warfare plan to Congress by the end of the year, and the document will serve as certification to lawmakers that the service is prepared to retire legacy equipment, according to a top Navy official.

Lawmakers have included provisions in previous defense policy bills that the Navy may not retire certain mine countermeasures assets unless the Navy secretary certifies the service has adequate replacements available.

Vice Adm. William Merz, the service's top requirements officer, told attendees today at a Mine Warfare Association event it would be too complex to certify that a replacement exists for each individual capability. Therefore, the service aims to "tell the whole story" through the mine warfare plan.

Merz also said Adm. Bill Moran, the service's vice chief who will soon become the chief of naval operations, signed out a classified letter that directed a reorganization of the Navy's mine warfare programs.