Tests show LCS problems

“Just what the hell is wrong with Navy shipbuilding these days?”

U.S. Navy testing showed that Lockheed Martin Corp's first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), USS Freedom, does not meet Navy stability requirements. Also, the combat system has problems.

Follow up:

The Pentagon's Operational Test and Evaluation director’s report stated neither the Lockheed’s steel monohull design, nor General Dynamics aluminum-hulled trimaran are expected to "be survivable in a hostile combat environment."

The report also said early air target tracking tests revealed deficiencies with the performance of the Lockheed ship's combat system and could "seriously degrade the ship's air defense capability unless corrected." Also, problems with a leaking seal and defective diesel engine in the General Dynamics ship were noted.

The final terms for a multibillion-dollar competition between Lockheed and General Dynamics that will decide which of the two designs is used for the more than 50 additional ships the service plans to buy.

The report's findings, however, could trouble lawmakers already concerned about cost and hefty cost overruns, especially in light of welding quality issues with Northrop Grumman-built amphibious assault ships also uncovered this week.

Faced with delays and restrictions about what it can and cannot do with U.S. technology, Canada's navy has opted to modernize its frigates using as much non-American equipment as possible for key systems on the ships. The strict enforcement by the U.S. government of technology restrictions under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) has delayed the delivery of military equipment to Canada. As a result, key radars, sensors and software to be installed on the Halifax-class frigates are coming from Canada, Sweden, Israel, Germany and the Netherlands.

Like a nightmare, things just get worse and worse, while Congressional candidates avoid the tough issues.