Navy Sees Littoral Combat Ship As Robotic Systems Platform

摘要

As the future of the littoral combat ship is called into question by high-ranking government officials, the Navy is continuing on its path to equip it with a variety of unmanned systems. The LCS - which has over the years seen its survivability in warfare criticized, its planned buy slashed and a restructuring of future vessels into upgraded frigates - is one of the Navy's most controversial shipbuilding programs. In just the past year, five ships have been operationally impaired by "engineering causalities of concern," said Sean Stackley, the Navy's assistant secretary for research, development and acquisition. The service has conducted formal engineering reviews and command investigations to find the root cause, he added.