Construction begins on the future USS Nantucket
Construction has begun on the US Navy’s 14th Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Nantucket.
Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine marked the beginning of construction on LCS 27 with a ceremony in Marinette.
The LCS fleet is designed to support mine countermeasures, anti-submarine and surface warfare missions with interchangeable mission modules.
The Freedom-variant LCS is able to integrate Longbow Hellfire missiles, 30mm guns, and manned and unmanned vehicles; and is equipped with Rolling Airframe Missiles and a Mark 110 gun, capable of firing 220 rounds per minute.
Joe DePietro, vice president and general manager of small combatants and ship systems, said: ‘LCS' built-in flexibility makes it unlike any other navy ship in the water today. LCS can serve a multitude of missions to include surface, anti-submarine and mine countermeasure missions by quickly integrating mission equipment and deploying manned and unmanned aerial, surface or sub-surface vehicles.’
LCS 27 is one of six ships in various stages of construction and test at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard, and will join a class of more than 30 ships when complete.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration]()
Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
-
![HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment]()
HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.
-
![How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China]()
How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China
The offensive against Iran could impact training and maintenance cycles and accelerate the degradation of the US arsenal on top of depleting Washington’s stockpiles.
-
![UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet]()
UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet
The UK MoD is scoping out systems to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems, with a focus on low-cost modularity and speed to field.
-
![US Pentagon claims to have severely damaged Iranian capabilities, promises to increase attacks]()
US Pentagon claims to have severely damaged Iranian capabilities, promises to increase attacks
US military authorities claim to have sunk 20 Iranian vessels and destroyed Tehran’s Air Force, with the Pentagon making plans to send additional assets to the region.
-
![Greece’s newly commissioned FDI frigate deployed to Cyprus]()
Greece’s newly commissioned FDI frigate deployed to Cyprus
The recent naval modernisation efforts by the Hellenic Navy have been bolstered by the acquisition of advanced Naval Group frigates, the first of which was delivered in December 2025 and is now playing a crucial role in the latest Middle East conflict.
