On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the US Navy’s technical command, acting on behalf of the Department of Defense, signed a 30,000,000 USD framework agreement with Marinette Marine Corp. (part of Fincantieri Marinette Marine) under the program to build Landing Ship Medium (LSM) amphibious ships for the US Marine Corps (USMC), which will be named McClung.
Images: NAVSEA
The contract covers the advance procurement of long-lead-time materials and related engineering and design work for the construction of four Block 1 Landing Ship Medium (LSM) vessels.
The work will be carried out at Marinette Marine Corp.’s shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin (46%), as well as in De Pere, Wisconsin (39%), and Kenner, Louisiana (15%). Completion is planned for September 2027. The initial funding comes from US Navy shipbuilding and conversion funds amounting to 15,000,000 USD from the NDAA defense budget for fiscal year 2026 and will not expire at the end of that fiscal year (September 30 this year).
On February 18 this year, NAVSEA issued a Request for Proposal for the selection of Vessel Construction Managers under the LSM program. Two contractors were named: Bollinger Shipyards in Mississippi and Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin, each of which will build four ships (with the ultimate requirement estimated at 35 ships – editor’s note). Under the current plans, construction of the prototype LSM is to begin in 2026 so that delivery can take place in 2029.
The selection of Fincantieri Marinette Marine is no coincidence. When the Future Guided Missile Frigate program, known by the acronym FFG(X), the continuation of construction of Constellation-class guided-missile frigates, was canceled on November 25, 2025, the US Navy promised to support local jobs at the shipyard that had lost the contract. The new FF(X) program is to be based on Legend-class National Security Cutters and, together with the LSM program, is intended to help sustain production, including in Wisconsin.
However, before the Landing Ship Medium vessels enter service, the Australian company Birdon will build two prototype Ancillary Surface Craft-Medium (ASC-M) landing craft.
Damen Naval’s LST-100 design was selected on December 5, 2025. A counterproposal from Bollinger Lockport Shipbuilding, based on the ILSV (Israeli Logistics Support Vessel) design, was rejected. The LST-100 design had previously been selected by Nigeria – for the single ship NNS Kada (LST 1314) – and by Australia under its program to build eight ships, codenamed Landing Craft Heavy.
The LST-100 is a ro-ro vessel with a hull length of 100.08 m, a beam of 16 m, a displacement of about 4,000 t, a maximum speed of up to 14–16 kt, a range of up to 3,400–4,000 nautical miles (at 15 kt), an endurance of up to 15 days, and a payload capacity of up to 1,400 t. Propulsion is provided by two Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines, each rated at 2,244–3,400 hp (1,650–2,500 kW), and four Caterpillar C18 generator sets, each rated at 816 hp (600 kW).
The crew consists of 32 officers and sailors, with the ability to embark an additional 16 personnel and 234 troops. In an emergency, the ship will be able to accommodate up to 450 people for a short period. The ship is capable of transporting two LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) landing craft.
The ship is fitted with a bow ramp with a capacity of up to 70 t, an internal ramp with a capacity of 30 t, and a stern ramp with a capacity of 70 t. A helicopter or unmanned aerial vehicle can operate from the aft deck. Equipped with a 25 t crane in the bow section, the vessel will be able to carry an unmanned underwater or surface vehicle. Its armament consists of a close-in defense system, the type of which is specified by the customer.