The U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ship (LCS) program hit rough waters Thursday amid talk of drastic cuts to a proposed fleet expansion, but at least one official with Mobile-based Austal USA said it is too early to allow the latest budget buzz to distract from the work at hand.

The Austal LCS 6 is built for the U.S. Navy in Mobile. (Austal/contributed)

Defense News reported Thursday that U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter directed Navy Secretary Ray Mabus in a Dec. 14 memo not only to reduce LCS procurement from the planned 52 ships to 40 but also to discontinue one of two variants by fiscal 2019.

Austal USA is fulfilling a $3.5 billion contract with the Navy alongside General Dynamics Mission Systems for 10 aluminum-hulled, Independence-class ships. Lockheed Martin and Marinette Marine, meanwhile, partnered to construct and outfit an equal number of steel-hulled Freedom-class variants in Wisconsin.

“In response to the Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter’s recommendation to reduce the LCS program, we understand this is a single step in a lengthy budget process that’s in its beginning stages. We will continue to monitor the process very closely and provide support as we have in the past,” Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle told Alabama NewsCenter.

The USS Omaha, the fourth littoral combat ship in Austal USA’s 10-ship, $3.5 billion contract with the U.S. Navy, will be christened Saturday, Dec. 19 in Mobile, Ala. The vessel is pictured during its Nov. 20, 2015 launch. (Courtesy Austal USA)

Austal USA is a full-service shipyard offering design, construction and high-speed vessel service and repair. As the Australian shipbuilder continues to expand its service and repair capabilities, the company is well-positioned for new business with advanced engineering, test and trials capabilities. Austal has a West Coast office in San Diego and Mobile’s state-of-the-art waterfront facility.

To date, Austal-built Independence ships USS Independence, USS Coronado and USS Jackson have entered service; the USS Montgomery and USS Gabrielle Giffords are being prepared for acceptance trials; the USS Tulsa and USS Manchester are being assembled in bays 4 and 5; and modules for the USS Charleston are under construction.

A private christening for the USS Omaha, the fourth in Austal’s 10-ship contract and its sixth LCS overall, is scheduled for Dec. 19 in Mobile with Mabus among the dignitaries slated to attend. Mabus will be joined at Saturday’s ceremony by Susan A. Buffett, the ship’s sponsor ; Vice Admiral Ted Carter, superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy; Rear Admiral Brian Antonio, executive officer for the LCS program; and U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, who had some harsh words for Secretary Carter.

“The United States is threatened by multiple adversaries, from China’s efforts to dominate the sea lanes in the South China Sea to Russia’s initiatives in the Black Sea through its seizure of Crimea, and to Iran’s attempts to choke off lanes into the Persian Gulf. Our Navy is at risk across the world and the weak and impotent Obama administration seeks to further undermine our position with this ill-considered decision,” said Byrne, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, in a prepared statement.

“Make no mistake about it, from Mobile to Marinette and from San Diego to Jacksonville, the bell has rung, and those in the Pentagon need to hear that this will not stand. Not just for our shipyards but also for our Navy and for the defense of the people of the United States of America,” Byrne said.

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., called the LCS program “critical” to the Navy’s ability to respond to current and future threats across the globe and vowed to “fight tooth and nail against this misguided attempt to needlessly undermine the security of our nation and the American people.”

“The Obama administration has once again demonstrated that it is tone-deaf when it comes to national security with this reckless proposal … Now more than ever, we must strengthen our military presence around the world – not weaken it,” said Shelby, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, in a prepared statement.

The USS Jackson was built in Austal’s facility in Mobile. (Austal/contributed)

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said Carter’s proposed cuts would represent a “monumental error.”

“This is troubling not just for the 4,000 hardworking Austal employees in Mobile, but also for the future of our Navy and our national security…The Navy has, for many years, stated its goal of building up its capacity to 308 ships. We are currently at only 282 ships. Cutting LCS procurement to just 40 ships will make the Navy’s 308 ship goal impossible to achieve, as the only alternatives to LCS are far more expensive to produce and maintain.  Indeed, little of the savings would be applied to other ships,” said Sessions, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson thanked Shelby, Sessions and Byrne for their support “as they fight this ill-conceived proposal to cut back production.”

“The LCS program has proven its worth to the U.S. Navy, and these innovative, high-value ships play a critical role in the national security mission. The Independence-class version produced in Mobile by Austal is an amazing warship, and we are proud to see it defending freedom around the world,” Stimpson said. “We will continue to work closely with our elected leaders in Washington, D.C., as well as our Navy partners to maintain production of the LCS, and to fight for the thousands of shipyard workers who truly are an asset to our city, state and nation.”

Austal USA’s Perciavalle echoed the gratitude for Thursday’s united front.

“We’re very encouraged by the steadfast support the program continues to receive from the Navy, as well as our congressional delegations. Sen. Shelby, Sen. Sessions and Congressman (Bradley) Byrne, as well as our other elected officials across the state, and quite frankly across the nation, continue to provide incredible support for the program that will be very important going forward,” Perciavalle said.