The contract supports initial activities for the first four vessels and positions construction to begin as early as the fourth quarter of 2026. The award precedes future construction contracts expected to be issued under the Navy’s Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) framework, pending approvals and final agreements. 

The LSM program is intended to support the Marine Corps’ evolving force design by enabling distributed operations and improved mobility in littoral environments. The vessels are designed to transport and sustain forces in contested areas. FMM is expected to build at least four ships during the initial production phase. 

The Navy’s VCM approach is intended to incorporate commercial shipbuilding practices and allow for parallel production. Under this model, shipbuilders are expected to emphasize production efficiency and schedule discipline. 

Feature photo: Damen image of the LST 100/Photo courtesy of Fincantieri