Acquisition officials plan to upgrade the U.S. Army’s small boats, a fleet they said is integral to the U.S. maritime mission, specifically in the Obama administration’s Asia-Pacific rebalancing initiative, DoD Buzz reported Wednesday.
Brendan McGarry writes the service will soon post a request for information on a contract to supply 36 Maneuever Support Vessel (Light) units to add to its inventory.
The Army currently maintains a fleet of over 100 Landing Craft Mechanized-8 Mike boats, Logistic Support Vessels and Landing Craft Utility-2000, according to the pubication.
Scott Davis, program executive officer of the U.S. Army Combat Support & Combat Service Support, indicated that the service is also looking to update the current fleet’s components for propulsion, communication and navigation.
He said his office is also preparing to spearhead renewed calls for funding support from Congress.
“With the uncertain nature of the where we might go and even the shift potentially toward the Pacific region… these watercraft take on a much greater importance,†Davis was quoted as saying at an Association of the United States Army event last week.
