Austal USA launched its first LCU-1700-class Landing Craft Utility, designated LCU 1710, for the U.S. Navy at its Mobile, Alabama, shipyard on August 22. The ship marks the beginning of a new generation of LCUs being built under a 2023 contract.
That award, valued at $91.5 million, funds the construction of three LCUs, with options for nine more that could bring the program’s value to nearly $380 million. In August 2024, the Navy expanded the order by two additional craft, increasing the number under construction to five, while Austal USA currently has three vessels in production.
The LCU-1700 is designed as a replacement for the Navy’s decades-old LCU-1650 fleet. The modern design incorporates a 139-foot steel hull, 31-foot beam, and 428 long tons of displacement. Its roll-on/roll-off ramps allow efficient transfer of vehicles and cargo, while the ability to link multiple LCUs together into an improvised causeway dramatically enhances logistics operations in challenging or contested environments.
