Walker asks Trump for more LCSs

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is seeking support from President Trump for more Littoral Combat Ships in the Defense Department's fiscal year 2018 budget submission.

In a March 21 letter, Walker asks Trump to support funding for three LCSs or frigates in the FY-18 budget. The Navy's FY-17 budget request shows just one LCS planned for FY-18. Lockheed Martin is a prime contractor on the program, and the company uses the Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, WI, to build Freedom-variant LCSs.

"Wisconsin workers have the capability to continue to build and produce world-class ships in Marinette for our Navy," Walker's letter states. "The Navy's frigate program is extremely important to our state and the United States as a whole. I ask for your support for three Littoral Combat ships/frigates in your FY-18 budget submission to Congress."

The Defense Department is expected to send its FY-18 budget submission to the White House's Office of Management and Budget by May 1. The budget request is due to hit Capitol Hill in mid-May.

The Navy's frigate program, meanwhile, is in flux. The service was set to deliver a draft request for proposals to industry this spring, but the Pentagon is now reconsidering the frigate requirements, as well as mulling whether to open up the competition to designs beyond those just based on the LCS hull. The requirements are expected to be finalized by May.