Fiscal Year 2024

Amphibious Warship ‘Strategic Pause’ Ongoing Despite Small Business Solicitation

Amphibious warship Richard M. McCool, Jr., (LPD-29) on Aug. 4, 2022. USNI News Photo

Construction of new U.S. amphibious warships is still on pause despite a small business solicitation indicating the Navy was preparing to enter a multi-year deal for San Antonio-class ships, USNI News has learned.

Last week, contract portal SAM.gov posted a long lead contract that indicated the Navy was moving ahead with a multi-year contract with HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding to build three Flight II San Antonios.

“T...

https://news.usni.org/2023/08/07/amphibious-warship-strategic-pause-ongoing-despite-small-business-solicitation

SASC Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Bill Calls for 10 New Ships, Demands New Shipbuilding Plan

The future Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD-29) launching at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Mississippi. HII Photo

The Senate Armed Services Committee authorized the Navy to buy 10 battle force ships in its version of the annual defense policy bill, an increase from the nine ships the service asked for in its budget proposal.

The Fiscal Year 2024 legislation, which passed the committee this week and will now go to the Senate floor, approves one Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine, two Flight III Arleigh...

https://news.usni.org/2023/06/23/sasc-fiscal-year-2024-defense-bill-calls-for-10-new-ships-demands-new-shipbuilding-plan

HASC Advances NDAA Authorizing 10 Ships, Creating SLCM-N Program

U.S. Capitol on Dec. 29, 2022. USNI News Photo

The House Armed Services Committee passed its annual defense policy bill early Thursday, authorizing the Navy to buy a total of 10 ships, an increase from the requested nine in the budget proposal.

The advanced legislation allows the Navy to buy one Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine, two Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, two Virginia-class attack boats, two Constellation-class frigates, one San Antonio-class LPD-17 Flight II...

https://news.usni.org/2023/06/22/hasc-advances-ndaa-authorizing-10-ships-creating-slcm-n-program

Lawmakers Press HASC to Approve Research Into Psychedelic Drugs for PTSD Treatment

U.S. Capitol on Dec. 29, 2022. USNI News Photo

Congressional members petitioned the House Armed Services Committee to research psychedelic drugs to treat post-traumatic stress during the panel’s annual member day ahead of the Fiscal Year 2024 defense policy bill markup.

Navy SEAL veteran Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) told a receptive HASC that Congress must approve research grants to assess using psychedelic drugs to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

“We have to think...

https://news.usni.org/2023/05/16/lawmakers-press-hasc-to-approve-research-into-psychedelic-drugs-for-ptsd-treatment

Project Overmatch Targeting R&D Tops Navy’s Fiscal Year 2024 Wishlist, $550M for Facility Overhauls

Operations Specialist 3rd Class Zachary Ezekiel, assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61), identifies air contacts in the combat information center (CIC) on March 21, 2016. Monterey is underway conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group in preparation for a future deployment. US Navy photo.

If the Navy could ask for funds in Fiscal Year 2024, it would prioritize more infrastructure to target potential adversaries in support...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/24/project-overmatch-targeting-rd-tops-navys-fiscal-year-2024-wishlist-550m-for-facility-overhauls

$3.6B Marine Corps Wish List Again Asks for Stalled Amphibious Warship

Shipbuilder welding on the bow section of a future San Antonio-class amphibious warship at Ingalls Shipbuilding on Aug. 4, 2022. USNI News Photo

For the second year in a row, the Marine Corps is asking Congress for an amphibious warship the Navy doesn’t plan to buy.

At the top of the Marines’ Fiscal Year 2024 unfunded priorities list is $1.7 billion for LPD-33, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock that the Navy did not include in its five-year budget outlook released last week. While the...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/22/3-6b-marine-corps-wish-list-again-asks-for-stalled-amphibious-warship

Navy: OSD Directed Amphib Procurement Pause, Joint Staff Says Current Amphib Force ‘Sufficient’

A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Rein.), flies over the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD-24) on May 3, 2022. US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON – A new study directed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense led to the halt in amphibious ship procurement so the Navy can evaluate requirements and cost efficiencies, a Navy official said Monday.

“We received direction from OSD, but this will be an integrated team...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/13/navy-osd-directed-amphib-procurement-pause-dod-says-current-amphib-force-sufficient