Next month.

Naval Shipbuilding

As the Navy pursues a plan to fill its fleet with 355 vessels, all eyes are on U.S. shipyards. Naval leaders and congressmen say the yards can meet the demand, but questions remain about how much they can handle and what, if any, upgrades to facilities will be needed to support such an endeavor.

Littoral Combat Ship

The Navy is on track to deliver four littoral combat ships this fiscal year. At the same time, it will soon release a request for proposals for a new frigate. While both programs are reaching major milestones, controversy continues to stir over their survivability and affordability. In our next issue, National Defense examines the embattled programs.

Submarines

The Navy is hoping for a major fleet expansion in the coming years, having recently released a force structure assessment calling for 355 ships. The service's top acquisition priority is the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine. But questions remain as to whether the Navy will have enough money to fully fund the $100 billion program while buying large quantities of other types of vessels.

Foreign Military Sales

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, through which foreign military sales are conducted, and the export control regime, which grants licenses to those who want...