LCS is in a ‘good place’ but capabilities are not being maximised, says CNO
The USN Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) used the Sea Service Chiefs Town Hall at AFCEA West 2020 on 2 March to address the current status and future plans for the fleet of Littoral Combat Ships (LCSs).
Comments by ADM Michael Gilday followed recent FY2021 budget recommendations to decommission the first four LCS platforms.
‘We’re going to have a fleet of 31 Littoral Combat Ships,’ Gilday began. ‘So the question is: What are we going to do with those ships?’
He described the current situation as ‘a good place’, with plans to base 14 ships on the east coast
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Canada targets 2027 frigate trials for CU179 Peregrine uncrewed helicopter
The Royal Canadian Navy’s CU179 Peregrine will undergo Halifax-class frigate trials in 2027 ahead of initial operational capability in 2028, while River-class destroyer integration arrangements remain undefined.
-
Argentina’s submarine and frigate acquisitions resurface with $3.5bn funding plan
Buenos Aires set out foreign loans worth $3.5 billion in its draft 2027 budget, opening a contest in which Naval Group and TKMS could lead the field.
-
AUKUS heavyweight torpedo test raises questions over future armed UUV requirements
A heavyweight torpedo firing from the Royal Navy’s uncrewed submarine XV Excalibur suggests a shift beyond surveillance, with allied navies eyeing strike roles for large autonomous undersea vessels.
-
Industrial teams prepare roadmap for Indonesia aircraft carrier transformation
Fincantieri and PT PAL have agreed on a framework to modernise the former Giuseppe Garibaldi, with drones, communications and broader Italian–Indonesian industrial ties involved.
-
Five years on: where could opportunities emerge next for AUKUS Pillar II?
Payload commonality, combat systems and electronic warfare are emerging as likely priorities as the trilateral partnership balances building submarines with sharing industrial ecosystems.