LCU 1700

The LCU 1700 Program is a Navy shipbuilding initiative focused on the procurement and delivery of Landing Craft, Utility (LCU) 1700 class vessels. The primary goal of this program is to provide the Navy with modern heavy lift capability for transporting personnel, weapons, equipment, and cargo from ship to shore and between shore locations. The LCU 1700 is designed to support a wide range of military operations, including sustained landing missions, riverine sustainment, surveillance, port clearing, and logistical reinforcement and resupply. The program is managed under the Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy appropriation, specifically within the Auxiliaries, Craft, and Prior-Year Program Costs budget activity.

The LCU 1700 Procurement Objective is to replace the aging LCU 1610 class, which has exceeded its intended 25-year service life, with the average age of the fleet now over 50 years. The new LCU 1700 vessels are intended to provide enhanced operational capability, including 24-hour operations for up to 10 days, increased payload, and improved reliability. The FY 2026 budget request includes mandatory funding to procure additional LCU craft and to develop a second shipyard, ensuring production capacity and schedule resilience. This funding is justified by the urgent need to recapitalize the Navy's landing craft fleet and maintain critical amphibious and logistics support capabilities.

Contracting and Production Status for the LCU 1700 program has undergone significant changes. The initial contract with Swiftships LLC was terminated for default in February 2024, resulting in no deliveries from that contract. Subsequently, a new Detail Design and Construction contract was awarded to Austal USA in September 2023 for three LCUs, with options for two more awarded in July 2024. There are further options for up to seven additional craft, which will be exercised as needed to meet fleet requirements. Austal USA now serves as the Design Agent for these vessels, ensuring continuity and expertise in the program's execution.

Ship Characteristics and Capabilities of the LCU 1700 class include a length overall of 139 feet, a beam of 31 feet, a displacement of 428 tons, and a draft of 7.3 feet. These vessels are specifically engineered to maximize payload and operational flexibility, supporting a variety of mission profiles. The design allows for continuous operations and persistent support for amphibious and logistical missions, which are critical for Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary operations. The program's objectives also include modernizing electronics, hull, mechanical, and electrical systems to improve efficiency and reduce lifecycle costs.

Production and Delivery Schedule is structured to ensure timely replacement of legacy craft and to meet operational demands. The awarded contracts specify delivery dates ranging from November 2025 through April 2027 for LCUs 1710 through 1714. The construction timelines have been optimized to reduce award-to-delivery intervals, with construction periods ranging from 16 to 19 months per vessel. Outfitting and post-delivery activities are scheduled to complete within several months of delivery, ensuring rapid integration into the fleet.

Budget Line Item Details indicate that the FY 2026 request is entirely mandatory funding, with no discretionary funds allocated. The program also includes funding for outfitting and post-delivery support, ensuring that each vessel is fully mission capable upon entry into service. Investments in modern construction, outfitting, and systems integration are reflected in the projected unit cost.