Cost of Littoral Combat Ship questioned.

• Author: Fein, Geoff S.
• Position: Washington Pulse

With a month to go before the Navy selects a Littoral Combat Ship hull design, questions remain about the potential cost of the program. Of specific concern to lawmakers and budget experts is the cost of the mission equipment. The Navy is requesting $352 million in 2005 for LCS development and initial procurement.

The mission modules are critical to the success of LCS. The initial phase of the program focuses on three key mission profiles: anti-submarine warfare, mine warfare and maritime interdiction operations. The mission modules are the sensors, weapons and off-board platforms required to execute these missions.

Some experts estimate the modules could cost between $100 million and $180 million apiece. A Congressional Budget Office report from March 2003 stated that the Navy would need to purchase 70 mission modules for the 56 planned LCS hulls. An additional 14 modules (above the required 56) would cost about $2.5 billion in all, or about $50 million per LCS.

"These ships could cost well in excess of $500 million," said Robert O. Work, of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. "The only thing we know is one component: the sea frame."

The Navy is asking for $2.76 billion during the next five years to develop and procure modular mission packages for LCS and other ships. Service officials, however, say that a number of factors prevent them from discussing the total cost of the LCS modules. "It's hard...