US Navy accepts future USS Charleston
The US Navy has accepted delivery of the eighth Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) the future USS Charleston during a ceremony at the Austal USA shipyard on 31 August.
Charleston is the 16th LCS to be delivered to the navy.
The modular, reconfigurable Independence variant ships have a trimaran hull and a large flight deck, and have been designed to perform critical warfare mission including anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and mine warfare missions in the littoral region.
Using an open architecture design, modular weapons, sensor systems and a variety of manned and unmanned vehicles to gain, sustain and exploit littoral maritime supremacy, LCS provides the US joint force access to critical theaters.
Following commissioning, Charleston will be homeported in San Diego.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![How the Anduril-HHI autonomous ship plan fits in with the US Navy’s MASC programme]()
How the Anduril-HHI autonomous ship plan fits in with the US Navy’s MASC programme
The new modular vessel is expected to be developed for both commercial and defence use, with a heavy focus on production speed and mission flexibility.
-
![Indo Pacific 2025: Autonomous systems reigned but can the Australian Defence Force afford it?]()
Indo Pacific 2025: Autonomous systems reigned but can the Australian Defence Force afford it?
Multiple autonomous systems and technologies were on display at this year’s Indo Pacific, but questions remain over how the Australian Department of Defence will balance the books.
-
![How the UK Royal Navy is powering up its hybrid fleet to combat new threats]()
How the UK Royal Navy is powering up its hybrid fleet to combat new threats
Since it announced its move towards a new “hybrid navy” earlier this year, the force has announced a number of new uncrewed technologies in the works.
-
![US and UK to begin Trident II D5 Increment 8 in October 2026]()
US and UK to begin Trident II D5 Increment 8 in October 2026
Trident II D5 Increment 8 will involve improvements to the shipboard navigation subsystem for the US Ohio and Columbia and the UK Dreadnought and Vanguard submarine classes.
-
![US Navy starts acquisition process for uncrewed maritime systems for support missions]()
US Navy starts acquisition process for uncrewed maritime systems for support missions
The USN is interested in uncrewed capabilities that can carry out explosive ordnance disposal, mine countermeasures, force protection, ISR and anti-submarine missions.
