Defense bill funds 4 Littoral Combat Ships

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY PANAMA CITY — The Senate Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2013 contains more than $1.7 billion in funding for construction of four Littoral Combat Ships (LCS).

Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division is the primary location where testing is done on the “mission modules,” which are interchangeable computer cargo that can be installed and refitted as the LCS mission is modified. Missions could include mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare.

The defense bill most likely will not head to the full Senate floor until after Tuesday’s primary election. The House passed its version of the appropriations bill earlier this summer.

Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Pratt is confident of success for the LCS mission module project.

“NSWC Panama City Division will continue to serve as the lead integrator of the Mine Warfare Mission Package in fiscal year 2013,” Pratt said.

Some officials are concerned about continued funding for projects like the LCS, especially if a budget impasse prompts drastic cuts to defense spending. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said the bill would fund defense programs through the first half of the 2013 fiscal year, which begins

Article source: http://www.newsherald.com/articles/panama-104652-combat-ships.html posted in Panama News

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