Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-California) has asked the U.S. Navy to offer the U.S. Coast Guard support in efforts to build a new heavy Arctic icebreaker ship as the platform is currently scheduled to deploy in 2025, Navy Times reported Monday.
Meghann Myers writes Hunter wrote a letter to Navy acquisition lead Sean Stackley that asks the service branch to provide insights on the Coast Guard’s Arctic missions.
Joe Kasper, Hunter’s chief of staff, told Navy Times the letter aims to start a discussion on whether the Navy should provide financial assistance for the Coast Guard’s acquisition program or help pay for the lease of a heavy icebreaker.
“The Navy’s going to have to support efforts to enhance ice-breaking capability in the Arctic if the Navy truly believes that capability is necessary,” said Kasper.
