Final US Independence-Class Littoral Combat Ship USS Pierre completes acceptance trials before delivery.

On June 11, 2025, Austal USA completed acceptance trials for the future USS Pierre (LCS-38), the 19th and last Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) constructed for the U.S. Navy. The trials, conducted in the Gulf of Mexico, concluded with the vessel’s return to port in Mobile, Alabama. LCS-38 is the final ship in a series of Independence-class vessels built over a 15-year span and represents the last unit of the program to undergo sea trials under Austal USA’s responsibility.
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The USS Pierre's propulsion system includes two gas turbines, two diesel engines, four waterjets, a retractable azimuth thruster, and four diesel generators, enabling the ship to exceed 40 knots in operational conditions and achieve sprint speeds of 47 knots. (Picture source: Austal USA)

The acceptance trials involved the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), which conducted a comprehensive evaluation of Pierre’s systems, including propulsion, navigation, sensors, and weapons. These trials are designed to assess the readiness of the ship for fleet operations and to confirm that all construction standards are met. According to Austal USA, successful trials require coordination across multiple departments, including engineering, program management, operations, testing and activation, site services, and logistics. Harley Combs, Vice President of Surface Ship Programs at Austal USA, emphasized that this event marked the final sea trial of an Independence-class LCS managed by the company. The testing confirmed that the ship’s systems function according to contract specifications and Navy operational requirements, clearing the way for formal delivery and commissioning into the fleet. The ship is expected to be delivered in the coming weeks and will be based in San Diego, concluding a program that saw Austal USA deliver as many as three ships per year at peak production. 

The USS Pierre (LCS-38) was launched on August 5, 2024, using Austal’s barge-to-drydock transfer system and christened in May 2024. The vessel measures 127.4 meters in length, with a beam of 31.6 meters and a draft of 4.27 meters. Its displacement is approximately 2,307 metric tons when light and 3,104 metric tons when fully loaded, with a deadweight of 797 metric tons. The propulsion system includes two gas turbines, two diesel engines, four waterjets, a retractable azimuth thruster, and four diesel generators, enabling the ship to exceed 40 knots in operational conditions and achieve sprint speeds of 47 knots. The vessel has a range of 4,300 nautical miles at 20 knots and a payload capacity of 210 metric tons. The standard crew consists of 40 personnel, eight officers and 32 enlisted, with space for up to 35 additional mission-specific personnel. The onboard equipment includes the Sea Giraffe 3D air and surface search radar, Bridgemaster-E navigational radar, AN/KAX-2 electro-optical and infrared sensors, and the EDO ES-3601 electronic support system. Defensive systems include four SRBOC chaff launchers and one SeaRAM missile launcher with 11 cells. Offensive armament consists of a Mk 110 57 mm gun and four .50 caliber machine guns, two forward and two aft. The flight deck and hangar support two MH-60R/S Seahawks.

The LCS program was initiated by the U.S. Navy in 2002 to produce modular, high-speed vessels capable of operating in shallow coastal waters. Austal’s design, based on commercial trimaran ferries, was selected for even-numbered ships, while Lockheed Martin’s monohull design was used for odd-numbered Freedom-class ships. The Independence-class hull form evolved from Austal’s Benchijigua Express ferry and was adapted to Navy requirements for modularity and speed. Pierre is the second U.S. Navy vessel to carry the name, following the World War II-era submarine chaser USS Pierre (PC-1141). Austal USA received a 10-ship block-buy contract in 2010 and continued delivering ships through 2025. Pierre’s keel was laid on June 16, 2023. The ship’s mission set includes support for mine countermeasures, surface warfare, and unmanned systems. The mission bay can support vehicles, containers, and a Mobicon container handler system. Payloads can include manned and unmanned aircraft, including MQ-8 Fire Scouts and containerized mission systems.

The Independence-class program has experienced multiple issues since its inception. Early hulls such as USS Independence (LCS-2) and USS Coronado (LCS-4) were decommissioned ahead of schedule due to technical problems and cost concerns. The Navy reported structural cracking in six ships, attributed to design vulnerabilities when operating at high speeds in sea states above eight-foot waves. These cracks occurred at the junction of the deck and hull plating, requiring structural modifications. Additionally, the modular mission concept, originally advertised as interchangeable within hours, proved less practical. Mission reconfiguration was later acknowledged to require weeks and was largely abandoned in favor of fixed-role deployment structures. Early LCS ships also lacked bridge wings, which had to be retrofitted. Other upgrades were gradually introduced to address corrosion, anchoring system deficiencies, and propulsion reliability. The Navy eventually designated the first four hulls as training ships and recommended their retirement in the FY21 budget proposal, citing a poor return on investment and high upgrade costs. Maintenance and crew-related challenges were repeatedly noted in Navy reports and hearings.

Despite these issues, later ships such as USS Santa Barbara, USS Augusta, USS Kingsville, and now USS Pierre have followed smoother construction and delivery schedules. As of 2025, 16 Independence-class ships remain in active service. The Navy has explored alternate uses for several hulls, including potential foreign military transfers and repurposing for specific roles like unmanned operations or mine warfare. However, internal Navy assessments have concluded that the LCS platform lacks the survivability and firepower required for contested maritime operations. The Navy has stated that resources allocated to upgrading or maintaining early LCS ships would be better used for acquiring newer vessels such as the Constellation-class frigates, which are being developed for multi-domain operations with enhanced lethality and endurance. The shift away from LCS reflects broader changes in naval force structure and a reassessment of platform survivability under current strategic threat conditions.

Austal USA will now redirect its industrial focus toward other naval projects. The company is currently building seven additional Navy and Coast Guard ships, in addition to supplying modules for the Columbia- and Virginia-class submarines and aircraft elevators for the Ford-class carriers. The closure of the LCS production line enables the reallocation of resources to programs with higher strategic priority. Austal has also previously proposed derivative designs based on the Independence-class trimaran hull, including the MRV 80 for border security and a frigate variant offered for the FFG(X) competition, although these proposals were not selected. The conclusion of the LCS program with USS Pierre marks a structural transition in U.S. naval shipbuilding priorities and ends one of the Navy’s most debated procurement efforts of the 21st century.