Why the US Navy wants to sell two Littoral Combat Ships after less than ten years in service
USS Jackson, pictured, will be retired and put up for sale after a mere nine years in USN service under current plans. (Photo: USN)
The proposed putting up for sale of the two Independence-class LCS will be followed by the disposal of four Freedom-class ships in 2025.
As part of its force structure plans, the USN plans to put two Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) up for sale in 2024.
The ships earmarked for sale, USS Jackson and Montgomery, are among eleven hulls the USN plans to decommission next year, which also includes five Ticonderoga-class cruisers, a submarine, and three Whidbey Island-class LSDs.
The US plans to make the two LCS available under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process, having served less than 40% of their planned 25-year service lives.
If retired in 2024, USS Jackson will have served nine years with the
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Coast Guard orders 10 additional Fast Response Cutters]()
US Coast Guard orders 10 additional Fast Response Cutters
The USCG exercised a $507 million contract option for the acquisition of 10 extra FRCs. This new order will raise the total number of Sentinel-class vessels procured by the service from 67 to 77.
-
![DSEI 2025: Red Cat expands into USV production with focus on combat-proven technology]()
DSEI 2025: Red Cat expands into USV production with focus on combat-proven technology
At DSEI 2025, Red Cat outlines its expansion from UAVs into uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), positioning itself as a multi-domain defence provider spanning land, sea, and air.
-
![Anduril Australia wins A$1.7 billion Ghost Shark XL-AUV contract]()
Anduril Australia wins A$1.7 billion Ghost Shark XL-AUV contract
The vessels are expected to deliver a major boost to Australia’s undersea warfare capabilities, with production set to start immediately.
-
![Royal Canadian Navy will start operating class 2 UAVs in 2028]()
Royal Canadian Navy will start operating class 2 UAVs in 2028
Acquired under Canada’s Department of National Defence ISTAR UAS project, the drones will be deployed from the Halifax-class frigates.
