Austal USA launched its first U.S. Navy Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessel, designated LCU 1710, at its shipbuilding facility in Mobile, Alabama. This vessel is the lead unit in the Navy’s new generation of LCUs, developed under a September 2023 contract.
The initial award, worth $91.5 million, covers three LCU-1700-class ships, with options for up to nine more, potentially raising the program’s total value to $380 million. In August 2024, the Navy exercised options for two additional vessels, bringing the confirmed build to five ships, with three now in active production.
Designed to replace the Navy’s aging LCU-1650 fleet, the new LCU-1700 features a 139-foot steel hull, 31-foot beam, and displacement of about 428 long tons. Equipped with roll-on/roll-off bow and stern ramps, it enables rapid loading and unloading of vehicles and supplies. Multiple LCUs can also be connected to create an expeditionary causeway, enhancing offload efficiency in austere or contested environments.
