The Navy‘s high uniformed chief informed Congress that the U.S. authorities ought to think about promoting ships from its troubled littoral fight fleet it plans to decommission to international locations in South America.
The Navy has confronted sharp criticism for its newest plan to decommission all of its Freedom-class littoral fight ships. The youngest ship, USS St. Louis (LCS-19), was commissioned lower than two years in the past in August 2020.
“We must always think about providing these ships to different international locations that might be capable to use them successfully,” Adm. Michael Gilday stated when requested by Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., concerning the Navy’s plan to decommission 9 of the ships in its upcoming funds proposal at a Senate committee listening to Thursday.
Learn Subsequent: Senator Desires DoD Local weather Change Objectives Locked into Legislation
“There are international locations in South America, for example … that might be capable to use these ships which have small crews,” Gilday added whereas talking to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Protection.
The Freedom-class variant was discovered to have a serious flaw with its combining gear — a chunk of kit that transfers energy from the ship’s engines to its water jets — early final yr, resulting in the choice to decommission the ships.
“The Navy owes a public apology to American taxpayers for losing tens of billions of {dollars} on ships they now say serve no goal,” Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., wrote in a tweet posted in March when the plans had been introduced.
Gilday acknowledged the tools flaw, however stated the Navy had different causes for eliminating the ships.
“Whereas the mechanical points had been an element, an even bigger issue was the dearth of ample warfighting functionality in opposition to a peer competitor in China,” he defined Thursday, echoing different Navy officers going again a number of months.
One key issue that Gilday and different Navy leaders have pointed to as dooming the ships was that the anti-submarine warfare package deal that was developed for the ships did not work.
Regardless of the problems the Freedom class has confronted, one space they have seen success is in southern waters conducting counter-narcotics missions. In October 2021, the Navy introduced the usSioux Metropolis seized virtually 500 kilograms of suspected cocaine, which the service famous “has an estimated road worth of over $20.7 million.”
“So, as a substitute of simply contemplating scrapping as the only choice, I believe there are others that we are able to take a look at,” Gilday stated.
Moran appeared open to the concept of re-selling the decommissioned ships, telling Gilday that “in case your workforce can be interested by having a dialog with my workforce concerning the suggestion that you simply made, please pursue.”
The Navy presently has six extra Freedom-class littoral fight ships in numerous phases of development. USNI News, citing Navy officers, reported in late March that the service will nonetheless take supply and plans to make use of them in South America and the Center East.
— Konstantin Toropin will be reached at konstantin.toropin@army.com. Comply with him on Twitter @ktoropin.
Associated: Navy Names the Ships It Desires Scrapped as Congressional Protests Develop
© Copyright 2022 Army.com. All rights reserved. This materials might not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
