Textron wins contract to build nine LCAC-100 Ship-to-Shore Connector Crafts for US Navy by 2030.

According to information published by the US DoD on November 8, 2024, Textron Systems Corp. has been awarded a significant contract modification totaling $394,299,705 to finalize a previously issued letter contract for the construction of nine LCAC-100-class Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) Landing Craft Air Cushion vessels.
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Textron Systems lands a $394 million contract to deliver nine advanced LCAC-100 landing crafts by 2030, enhancing the US Navy's rapid deployment and amphibious operations. (Picture source: US DoD)

The LCAC 100 is engineered to transport heavy payloads, including M1 Abrams tanks, artillery, and personnel, directly from ship to shore and across the beach. Its ability to traverse over 70% of the world’s coastlines, including those inaccessible to traditional landing craft, provides a strategic advantage in selecting landing sites, thereby increasing operational flexibility and surprise.

With a maximum speed exceeding 35 knots and an operational range of up to 200 nautical miles, the LCAC 100 enables rapid deployment of forces and equipment. This speed and range facilitate swift responses to emerging threats, humanitarian crises, or natural disasters, ensuring that military assets can be positioned effectively in a timely manner.

The LCAC 100’s design aligns with the U.S. Navy’s emphasis on expeditionary warfare, allowing for seamless integration with amphibious assault ships and other naval platforms. Its capability to deliver heavy equipment and troops directly onto unprepared beaches supports the Marine Corps’ operational concepts of distributed operations and littoral maneuver, enhancing the ability to project power ashore in contested environments.

Incorporating modern technologies, the LCAC 100 features an integrated fly-by-wire control system, advanced skirt materials, and a simplified yet more powerful propulsion and lift system. These enhancements improve reliability, reduce maintenance requirements, and extend the craft’s operational lifespan, ensuring sustained performance in diverse operational scenarios.

From a strategic perspective, the LCAC 100 enhances the U.S. military’s amphibious capabilities, providing a versatile platform for power projection, rapid response, and logistical support.

Other countries, however, have also created air-cushioned landing craft with similar objectives to enhance their own amphibious capabilities.

One notable counterpart is the Zubr-class LCAC, originally developed by the Soviet Union and now produced by Russia and Ukraine. The Zubr-class stands as the world’s largest military hovercraft, with a remarkable payload capacity that allows it to carry heavy armored vehicles or hundreds of troops. Known for its impressive speed and range, the Zubr has been exported to countries like Greece and China.

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has developed its own air-cushioned landing craft, the Type 726 LCAC, or Yuyi-class. Designed to transport armored vehicles and troops for amphibious operations, the Type 726 is often deployed from China’s advanced Type 071 amphibious transport docks and Type 075 amphibious assault ships.