The U.S. Navy has officially received its 19th and final Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 38), the future USS Pierre, from Austal USA.
Launched in August 2024, the vessel successfully completed acceptance trials in June 2025, marking the conclusion of the Navy’s 15-year Independence-variant LCS program. Commissioning is scheduled for this fall, with San Diego, California, as its future homeport.
The Littoral Combat Ship fleet includes two variants: the Freedom-class, built by Lockheed Martin, and the Independence-class, constructed by Austal USA. Designed for agility in coastal waters, LCS vessels support missions such as mine countermeasures and surface warfare, either independently or alongside larger naval platforms like destroyers and cruisers.
Despite their innovative design, the LCS program has faced significant challenges—including rising costs, maintenance difficulties, and operational limitations tied to modular mission systems. These issues led to the early decommissioning of several Freedom- and Independence-class ships, some after fewer than 10 years in service.
