The Senate’s version on limitations for the future Medium Landing Ship (LSM) for the Navy and Marine Corps won out in the final FY 2025 defense authorization bill, requiring the Navy ship design before construction can start.
Both chambers ‘ draft bills placed limits on the Navy starting to build the new LSM until certain design levels are complete, given heavy delays in recent new ship classes and concerns about final costs.
Earlier this year, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro’s 45-day shipbuilding review confirmed significant ship design and construction delays across several classes. That included the first Constellation-class frigate being three years behind schedule despite starting with a parent design that was modified for U.S. Navy standards and uses. A major issue with the frigate is deep delays in completing the design on the ship (Defense Daily, April 3).
The House version would prohibit using funds for procuring LSMs until the Navy certified the ship design was not based on more than 35 percent military specifications and require a report to the defense committees on the differences in cost and construction schedules between a ship based on military vs. commercial standards.
The Senate version prohibited construction on the lead LSM until the Navy certifies that basic and functional design are complete. Meanwhile, it also authorized the service to procure or charter a minimally-modified commercial or non-developmental landing ship that meets core Marine Corps sealift and beach landing requirements(Defense Daily, July 9).
The final bill adopts the Senate version but also includes an amendment such that this restriction does not apply if the Navy goes with a commercial or non-developmental design for an LSM rather than a new military-focused design. It further endorsed taking this path by allowing the Navy service acquisition executive to waive requirements for a full and open competition on the lead LSM if the design is commercial or non-developmental.
These provisions were also in response to an April Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report that estimated the LSM may cost over two times current Navy estimates of $150 million per hull, depending on the ratio of military vs. civilian specifications (Defense Daily, April 12).
The Navy plans for the LSM to be a hybrid between an amphibious warfare ship with full military specifications and a ship with commercial standards, but that opens it up to a wide range of potential costs if more military standards are chosen.
CBO said the ships would cost up to $600 million if they use full warfare ship standards, but $140 million if tilted toward commercial standards.
The Marine Corps wants to ultimately procure 35 LSM-type ships in addition to the traditional large amphibious warships. The Navy has committed to an initial 18-hull LSM program that would cost $2.6 billion in 2024 dollars. Vessels 19-35 could consist of other vessels with similar capabilities, like those being tested now for LSM concepts, like the Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship and leased commercial Stern Landing Vessel.
The defense authorization bill also went with a Senate provision to prohibit construction on the first Constellation-class frigate in FY ‘25 until the Secretary of Defense certifies that 95 percent of functional design drawings have been approved by the designated technical authority. It also required the Comptroller General of the U.S. to assess the secretary’s complaints with requirements and evaluate the completeness of frigate functional design.