Whether Congress directs the Navy to purchase additional Littoral Combat Ships in fiscal year 2019 does not change the service's stance on buying at a minimum 20 guided-missile frigate replacement vessels. Navy acquisition executive Hondo Geurts told reporters May 2 the service has not changed the force structure assessment and its stance is the health of the LCS industrial base is a separate concern from the FFG(X) competition even though both ship classes are classified as small surface combatants. "I...