The U.S. Navy has accepted delivery of its last Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship, LCS 38—the future USS Pierre—from Austal USA, completing the 19-ship series after 15 years of production.
The ship was launched in August 2024 and wrapped up acceptance trials in June 2025. Its commissioning is expected this fall, with the vessel to be based in San Diego.
The LCS fleet features two distinct classes: the Austal-built Independence variant and the Lockheed Martin-produced Freedom variant. Both were designed for high-speed coastal operations, capable of conducting missions such as mine countermeasures and near-shore surface warfare—either independently or in support of larger combatants.
However, the LCS program has been marred by persistent issues, including budget overruns, maintenance challenges, and underperforming modular mission packages. As a result, the Navy has retired multiple ships from both variants prematurely, many serving less than a decade.
