The Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program aims to acquire three new heavy polar icebreakers, followed by up to three medium polar icebreakers.
The first two PSCs are fully funded, with the first to be delivered in 2026 or 2027.
The proposed FY2024 budget requests $170.0 million for long lead time materials and government-furnished equipment for the PSCs.
The budget also requests $125.0 million for the purchase and modification of an existing polar icebreaker to augment the Coast Guard’s capacity.
Congress denied the same request in the FY2023 budget request.
A new procurement program is proposed for a Great Lakes icebreaker, with $55.0 million in initial funding requested.
The estimated total cost for the three PSCs is about $2.7 billion.
The current polar icebreaking fleet consists of one heavy and one medium icebreaker, with plans to extend the service life of Polar Star until the delivery of at least the second PSC.