Choppy waters for LCS
The survivability and lethality of the US Navy’s troubled Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme has again been called into question in a GAO report released on 18 December.
A total of 40 LCS vessels, down from 52, will now be built from one shipyard for the US Navy after an intervention by US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. Plans had originally called for 52 vessels in two Freedom and Independence-class variants constructed by Lockheed Martin and Austal USA, while six LCS have been commissioned into service.
Last month Lockheed Martin began work for the US Navy’s fifteenth LCS at
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Partnerships will be critical for future projects at Latin American shipyards]()
Partnerships will be critical for future projects at Latin American shipyards
Multiple Latin American navies are modernising their fleets by prioritising domestically manufactured surface vessels and even submarines via international partnerships.
-
![SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations]()
SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations
US Naval Special Warfare Command is assessing the feasibility of rapidly producing expendable mid-sized USVs in theatre to support SOF and maritime security missions.
-
![SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system]()
SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system
MARSOC is procuring the Shark Marine Dive Tablet 2 to address a longstanding combat diver navigation capability gap, improving underwater positioning, situational awareness and integration with existing diver propulsion vehicles.
