Communications Pieces News

U.S. Coast Guard will beef up oversight of a $24 billion modernization project run by a Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp. joint venture, amid mounting delays, soaring costs and design flaws, sources familiar with the move said on Monday. The venture, Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), will continue work on the program to overhaul Coast Guard ships, helicopters, airplanes and communications, known as Deepwater. But the Coast Guard will take over responsibility as the "lead integrator" or program manager, a move aimed at answering recent lawmaker demands. The Coast Guard also plans to announce the permanent retirement of eight 123-foot patrol boats that were pulled from service late last year due to hull problems, the sources said.