The Senate Armed Services Committee is directing the Pentagon weapons buyer to certify Littoral Combat Ship mission packages as a program of record when the fiscal year 2018 budget is submitted, according to the FY-17 defense policy bill released May 20. Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall must include in his certification procurement quantities for the surface-warfare mission packages, anti-submarine warfare mission packages and mine countermeasures mission packages, the committee language reads. The Senate authorization bill also requires the Navy secretary...