
The Navy's top acquisition official said Thursday the service's requirement for 52 Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) is "firm," and would not comment on reports a day earlier saying the Office of the Secretary of Defense has instructed the Navy to reduce the number to 32 vessels. Sean Stackley, the Navy's assistant secretary for research, development and acquisition, also refused to comment on whether the service has been told to cut the purchase by 20 ships, saying he cannot discuss the…