Navy of the Future

The littoral combat ship (LCS) is an entirely new Navy warship that will complement the DD(X) and CG(X) ships in the DD(X) family.

Because of its smaller, more maneuverable size, the ship will operate primarily in littoral regions (shallow coastal waters). It will be capable of landing SEALS; Maritime Interdiction Operations groups; Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance teams; and AntiTerrorism/Force Protection units where they are needed.

As with the DD(X) and CG(X), the LCS will include numerous advanced features:

Capabilities: The LCS shallow-draft mono hull design will allow the vessel to achieve sprint speeds over 40 knots/46 m.p.h. and long-range trips over 3,500 miles. It will be able to operate in shallow waters giving it access to ports and littoral waters currently not available to conventional ships.

Modular Configuration: The ship will feature interchangeable mission modules, allowing it to be quickly reconfigured to deal with threats and various operational requirements, such as antisubmarine warfare, surface warfare and mine warfare. The ship will also be capable of defense, reconnaissance and surveillance, special operations, and homeland defense.

Launchability: The LCS will be able to launch, handle and recover helicopters and small boats, as well as unmanned air, surface and subsurface vehicles.

Versatility: The LCS will be able to deploy to overseas near-shore regions and remain on station for extended periods of time either with a battle group or through a forward-basing arrangement. It will be capable of underway replenishment.

Providing Support: While complementing capabilities of the Navy’s larger multi-mission surface combatants, the LCS will also be networked to share tactical information with other Navy aircraft, ships, submarines and joint units.