
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…