The USA’s New Littoral Combat Ships (updated)
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Trimaran LCS Design
(click to enlarge)
Exploit simplicity, numbers, the pace of technology development in electronics and robotics, and fast reconfiguration. That was the US Navy’s idea for the low-end backbone of its future surface combatant fleet. Inspired by successful experiments like Denmark’s Standard Flex ships, the US Navy’s $30+ billion “Littoral Combat Ship” program was intended to create a new generation of affordable surface combatants that could operate in dangerous shallow and near-shore environments, while remaining affordable and capable throughout their lifetimes.
It hasn’t worked that way. In practice, what the Navy wanted, the capabilities needed to perform primary naval missions, and what could be delivered for the sums available, have proven nearly irreconcilable. The LCS program has changed its fundamental acquisition plan several times since 2005, and canceled contracts with both competing teams, without escaping any of its fundamental issues.
The latest additions include completion of LCS-2 builder tests, and plans to deploy LCS-1 ahead of schedule…
- LCS: Concept & Needs
- LCS: The Competing Teams
- LCS Solution = Standard Equipment + Mission Modules
- LCS: Controversies & Cautions
- LCS: Budgets and Program Structure
- LCS: Export Potential
- LCS: Contracts & Key Events [updated]
- LCS Ancillaries: Mission Module & Weapon Contracts & Key Events
- Additional Readings & Sources [updated]
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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