The US Navy has awarded three competitive prototype other transaction (OT) agreements to Conrad Shipyard of Orange, Texas; Master Boat Builders of Coden, Alabama; and Saronic Technologies of Brownsville, Texas, to build new utility landing craft (LCUs) under the LCU-1700-class.
“By selecting three distinct shipyards, the navy is expanding its shipbuilding industrial base capacity and building a resilient 'second source' of supply for landing craft,” said William F. Mahan, who is performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. “OT prototype authority allows the navy to move at the speed of relevance.”
Under the agreements, each shipyard will construct two or three prototype craft and refine manufacturing plans to support high-rate production.
The total initial construction obligation is US$280,521,389.
The LCU-1700-class vessels are the replacements for the legacy LCU-1610-class, which average over 50 years of active service.
The navy said the newly constructed LCUs will feature improved reliability, increased payload capacity, extended operational reach and compatibility with the service’s amphibious warfare ships.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2028 and continue through 2029.
In August, the Navy took delivery of its first LCU-1700-class landing craft, LCU-1710 (pictured), from Austal USA.
