The U.S. Coast Guard has renamed its heavy icebreaker funding program to emphasize national security, USNI News reported Thursday.
The program’s rebranding as the Polar Security Cutter is intended to address funding requirements for a new class of icebreaker ships, by marketing the effort as one significant to national security.
The renewed program may involve arming the sought cutters with weapons, as hinted in recent USCG sourcing notices that requested proposals on deck-mounted weaponry, the report noted.
At a U.S. Naval Institute event in August, Adm. Karl Schultz said that the icebreaker will need to also function as a national security vessel to protect the nation’s sovereign interests.
