Lawmakers warn U.S. Navy on ship costs

U.S. lawmakers grilled Navy officials on Tuesday about massive cost growth and delivery delays in a new coastal warship program, but Navy officials said they remained committed to buying 55 of the ships and cutting future costs.

“Everyone should understand that the current situation of these vessels costing in excess of a half billion dollars cannot continue,” Representative Gene Taylor, the Democratic chairman of the seapower subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, said at a hearing on the new warship.

The littoral combat ships (LCS) were initially projected to cost $220 million a copy, but the first ship built by Lockheed Martin Corp is now expected to cost $550 million.

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