"Four New LCS Vessels Approved for Construction" Topic

Apparently, contracts for four new LCS vessels have been approved.

Lockheed will be producing two mono-hulled vessels, and an Australian company will be producing two trimiran models.

Delivery of all are expected to be in the Summer of 2018.

No mention of weapons loadouts were provided with the announcement.

Last I recall, the completed models were little more than glorified yachts, with a few popguns on board.

Hope they decide to equip them with some real teeth, given all the money they are spending on the program.

More 'Little Crappy Ships'. On joy……. I also hope they fix the construction problems that popped up on the last batch (but I won't hold my breath…).

My bet is they give them all to the Coast Guard in about 5 years. At least they will get some use out of them!

So they went from "winner of US competition -> sole design" to "we'll build both so everyone wins" to now "plus we make a different design in Australia"? I've got no problem with sequestration. Didn't the USCG get the patrol craft built for the USN but was causing physical damage to SEALs riding in them?

Well, between these and the F-35 Coot, our enemies will have far less to fear.

Saw a front-page magazine article titled something like "F-35, most powerful fighter ever" (or most deadly).

Gave me a good chuckle, since the F-35 is so much less capable than the F-22, amongst others.

Apparently, the author/magazine editor are better at writing catchy headlines than on doing their research on the subject.

Seems we in the USA don't have the ship-building capacity to produce all our own vessels anymore, or the skilled labor is otherwise occupied on other projects.

The two contracts for these four corvette-sized ships are reportedly close to $1.4 USD billion dollars. I'd factor in the expected cost overruns and call it an even $2,000,000,000. USD

The Australian company – Austral Ships is building the vessels in the US at Mobile Bay in a facility they have constructed there. The US would not allow these ships to be built in their Australian yard. This caused something of a stink locally when the first contract was awarded, as Austral will be employing some 4,000 workers in the US while being forced to cut back here.

As for the F22/F35 Australia wanted the F22 but was essntially told that Congress would not trust us with this aircraft. Now we may be cutting back on the proposed order for the F35 and getting more Superhornets down the track.

Should've stuck with the F20 Tigershark earlier.

Are LCS' riverine capable?

Depends on the river depth.