
The Senate Armed Services Committee’s fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill includes a provision authorizing the Navy to procure, lease or charter a medium-sized landing ship short of the Landing Ship Medium (LSM) while the latter program advances. It specifically would authorize the Navy Secretary to enter into an agreement to procure, lease or charter a “commercial or non-developmental ship that meets core U.S. Marine Corps requirements for operational sealift and landing troops, equipment, and supplies to a beach.” The…