Navy seeks to spend $75M in FY-19 on Littoral Combat Ship oversight and management

The Navy set aside $75 million in its other procurement account in the fiscal year 2019 budget request for oversight and management of the Littoral Combat Ship program, according to a service spokeswoman.

"The 'Other' category costs are primarily 'fixed' costs associated with the LCS program as a whole, not attributable entirely to the procurement of one LCS in FY 2019," Navy spokeswoman Lt. Lauren Chatmas wrote in a statement to Inside Defense.

These efforts include design products for new construction and systems engineering management, acceptance test and evaluation, government integration, certification oversight, contract administration and acquisition reporting requirements, according to Chatmas.

The Navy budgeted for one LCS in FY-19, a move that has come under fire from Congress and industry as service officials previously advocated for funding three LCSs per year.

Rear Adm. Brian Luther, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for budget, said last month the one LCS in FY-19 fulfills the service's 32-ship requirement. The ship is a "sufficient bridge" to the new guided missile frigate replacement program, he added.