Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Civilian Aviation Alternative Support Study: Report of Findings and Recommendations

Abstract

In response to a request by NAVAIR Aviation/Ship Integration AIR 1.2, this study performed a Civilian Contractor Workforce and Skill/Qualification Assessment for an LCS Composite Aviation Detachment. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Human Capital transformation vision mandates that the total number of personnel required to operate a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) not exceed 75. However, the projected personnel requirements for the three principal components of the LCS deployment profile, i.e., the ships crew, the aviation detachment and the Focused Mission Package detachment, combine for a significantly higher number. An indepth analysis of collected data and information indicates that employing contractor personnel to conduct or support combat missions on board LCS or any other Navy combatant is impracticable and contrary to the international laws of armed conflict. However, contact with Navy aviation civilian contractors and US Coast Guard helicopter personnel indicates that significantly fewer active duty personnel might be required to operate and support embarked aircraft within the LCS aviation operations & maintenance profiles using NAVAIRs preliminary assumptions and Sea Base concept as delineated in the LCS concept of operations.