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Navy/USMC

Authorizers Support New LSM Plan, Impose Vessel Construction Manager Strategy

Friday, July 11th, 2025

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Authorizers Support New LSM Plan, Impose Vessel Construction Manager Strategy

The previous concept design for the Navy’s Medium Landing Ship (LSM), featured in an April Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report. (Image: CBO)

The newly released House and Senate Armed Services Committee’s FY 2026 defense authorization bills both support the Navy’s latest strategy to move forward with a non-developmental design for the Medium Landing Ship (LSM) and also impose a different acquisition strategy. Both versions of the authorization bill authorize procurement of different numbers of LSMs but agree the Navy should utilize a Vessel Construction Manager acquisition strategy for vessels two and beyond. A Vessel Construction Manager acquisition strategy entails having the Navy…

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