Navy to select new ship designs on July 17.

• Position: Washington Pulse - Littoral Combat Ship program - Brief Article

The Navy plans to select up to three contractors on July 17 for the next phase of the Littoral Combat Ship program.

Each will receive a $10 million, seven-month contract to refine their designs and concepts. The Navy stipulated that each LCS should cost between $150 million and $220 million. Including the mission systems, the total cost should not exceed $250 million.

In the proposals the Navy received in April from several industry teams, the average price is about $180 million for the hull and about $70 million to $80 million for the mission systems, said Rear Adm. Charles Hamilton, the Navy's program executive officer for ships.

Hamilton said the first LCS ship will be in operation by fiscal year 2005. "The schedule is aggressive but attainable."

In a meeting with congressional staffers and contractors, Hamilton commented that he was pleased to see that "all the bidders" had international partners. He noted that naval engineers from countries such as Israel, Sweden, Norway, Australia and New Zealand have more experience in designing the small...