Two shipyards to build new medium landing ships for US Navy
The US Navy has selected two shipyards that will construct the new medium landing ships (LSM).
The US Navy has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) to oversee the acquisition of these ships, aiming to accelerate delivery, enforce cost discipline, and expand the US shipbuilding industrial base.
For initial production, the Navy will direct the VCM to manage LSM construction at Bollinger Shipyards and Fincantieri Marinette Marine. Bollinger Shipyards, awarded a contract in September 2025, will handle long lead-time procurement and engineering design for the lead ship. Fincantieri Marinette Marine will be responsible for building four ships.
Following the initial production, the VCM will determine the optimal approach for awarding the remaining three ships authorized under the base contract, providing flexibility to streamline construction and maintain efficiency across the shipyards.
The VCM will hold the prime contract with the Navy and, in turn, issue and manage its own subcontracts directly with the shipyards. This places the VCM in direct contractual control of shipyard performance, the officials noted.
“The VCM approach not only accelerates construction timelines but also strengthens our industrial base by engaging multiple shipyards,” said Rear Adm. Brian Metcalf, program executive officer, ships.
“By providing a mature, ‘build-to-print’ design and empowering a VCM to manage production, we are streamlining oversight for this acquisition. This approach accelerates the timeline and strengthens our industrial base, ensuring we have the capacity and expertise needed for sustained maritime advantage.”
In December 2025, the US Navy and Marine Corps jointly announced Damen Naval’s LST 100 would serve as the baseline to help rapidly field LSM capability. The LSM will fill the capability gap between smaller, short-range landing craft and the navy’s long-duration, multi-purpose amphibious warfare ships.
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The program will deliver a 35-ship fleet that enhances expeditionary agility and supports the Marine Corps’ concept of distributed maneuver and logistics.
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