The Navy has identified a postponed aircraft carrier midlife refueling as a way to offset the cost of a second Littoral Combat Ship in the fiscal year 2018 request, multiple sources confirmed to Inside Defense.
In a surprise turn last month, the Navy released a budget that included only one LCS, but -- a day later -- indicated the Office of Management and Budget would support a second LCS in FY-18.
Multiple sources with knowledge of the program told Inside Defense the Navy intends to propose that refueling and complex overhaul funds be used to pay for the second LCS.
The Navy has already opted to postpone the multibillion-dollar midlife refueling of the John C. Stennis (CVN-74) by 10 months because of fleet needs and the workload at Newport News Shipbuilding, Inside Defense previously reported.