The USA’s New Littoral Combat Ships (updated)
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Trimaran LCS Design
(click to enlarge)
The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is the U.S. Navy’s newest surface combatant class. Optimized for shallow seas and operations within 100 miles of shore, but deployable across the ocean, LCS ships are a centerpiece of the USA’s new focus on littoral warfare. They will help to counter growing “asymmetric” threats like coastal mines, quiet diesel submarines, global piracy, and terrorists on small fast attack boats. They will also perform intelligence gathering and scouting using helicopters and UAVs, offer some ground combat support capabilities, and share tactical information with other Navy aircraft, ships, submarines, and joint units. Swappable “mission modules,” UAV robot aircraft, and robotic UUV and USV vehicles will give these small ships the specialized capabilities they require for each of these roles – and the quick-replace adaptability they need to keep up.
At present, 2 teams are competing for the final LCS design. The General Dynamics team is offering a futuristic but practical high-speed trimaran based on Austal designs and experience. The Lockheed Martin team offers a high-speed semi-planing monohull based on Fincantieri designs that have set trans-Atlantic speed records. Team Lockheed’s efforts have run into serious trouble, including cancellation of the contract for their second ship. The General Dynamics/Austal team hit the same rocks soon afterward, in part because of the US Navy’s unusual proposal for future business arrangements.
DID places recent developments in context by explaining a bit more about the US Navy’s new surface combatant; detailing the teams, key time line events, and contract awards under the program to date; and providing additional resources and links to complete our in-depth coverage. New material appears in green type. The latest updates involve mission module integration, a report on program status and costs from the Congresional Budget Office, and an article by Naval Technology that looks at the LCS program’s issues to date…
- LCS = Standard Equipment + Mission Modules
- LCS: Budgets and Program Structure [updated]
- LCS: Designs & Teams
- LCS Controversies
- LCS: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
- LCS Ancillaries: Mission Module & Weapon Contracts & Key Events
- Additional Readings & Sources
Subscribe now to DII and stay on top of developments with the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship Coverage includes:
- Timeline of key events, as General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin complete final designs
- Analysis of program costs including FY 2009 budget summary. Reference to DII's "Littoral Combat Ship Costs, Issue Rising Again" with exact calculations.
- A compilation of LCS weapons capabilities, one of the key controversies surrounding the program, including links to comparable ship classes around the world
- quick links to DII articles about the systems ñ including: the BAE Systems Mk110 57mm naval gun, Raytheon's RIM-116 RAM launcher, and the NLOS-LS
- Onboard platforms under consideration such as helicopters and helicopter UAVs, and UUVs and USVs
- 11 photos and illustrations, plus discussion of the envisioned LCS mission modules ñ Mine Warfare (MIW), Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW) and Surface Warfare (SUW)
- Easy access to additional DID resources including: "USN Approves LCS Surface Warfare Package - But Doubts Remain," "Cost Growth Puts the Brakes on the USA's Littoral Combat Ship Program," "$8.5M for 2 Littoral Combat Ship Anti-Submarine USVs," "N-G Gets $159M Littoral Combat Ship Mission Package Integration Contract," "UAVs, Blimps, and HSV-2, Oh My!" "U.S. Navy Exploring New Concepts, Procurement Priorities for ASW," and more.
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