**GAO-10-523**                      Published: Aug 31, 2010. Publicly Released: Aug 31, 2010.                  

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## Highlights

The Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is envisioned as a reconfigurable vessel able to meet three missions: surface warfare, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine warfare. It consists of the ship (seaframe) and the mission package it carries and deploys. The Navy plans to invest over $25 billion through fiscal year 2035 to acquire LCS. However, recurring cost growth and schedule delays have jeopardized the Navy's ability to deliver promised LCS capabilities. Based on a congressional request, GAO (1) identified technical, design, and construction challenges to completing the first four ships within current cost and schedule estimates, (2) assessed the Navy's progress developing and fielding mission packages, and (3) evaluated the quality of recent Navy cost analyses for seaframes and their effect on program progress. GAO's findings are based on an analysis of government and contractor-generated documents, and discussions with defense officials and key contractors. This product is a public version of a For Official Use Only report, GAO-10-1006SU, also issued in August 2010.

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## GAO Contacts

Michele Mackin
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## Topics

Government Operations

Antisubmarine warfareCost analysisDefense budgetsDefense capabilitiesDesign specificationsFuture budget projectionsInvestmentsMilitary missionsMilitary procurementMilitary vesselsNaval procurementNaval warfareOperational testingProcurementProcurement planningProgram evaluationSchedule slippagesStrategic planningSystems designTechnology assessmentCost growthProgram goals or objectives