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Textron delivers first serial production LCAC to US Navy

US Navy LCAC
Illustration: Textron Systems photo of LCAC 101 during acceptance trials

After delivering the first two ship to shore connectors (SSC) to the US Navy for evaluation and training in 2020, Textron Systems delivered Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 102 to the service on June 3.

Delivery follows successful completion of acceptance trials with the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey to test the readiness and capability of the craft and to validate requirements.

The SSC program is now in serial production with LCACs 103-115 making progress on the production lines at Textron Systems in Slidell, Louisiana.

SSC training craft, LCACs 100 and 101 are in the initial operator training pipeline and are in post-delivery test and trials at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division.

“SSC provides the Navy and Marine Corps team with the capability and capacity needed to execute a range of complex missions with agility and speed,” said Capt. Cedric McNeal, program manager, Amphibious Warfare Programs, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “With increases in performance and reliability, this next generation craft will meet the needs of the fleet for years to come.”

LCACs are built with similar configurations, dimensions, and clearances to legacy LCAC, ensuring the compatibility of this next-generation air cushion vehicle with existing well deck equipped amphibious ships, as well as the Expeditionary Transfer Dock.

The LCAC 100-class craft address the growing capability and capacity necessary to transport joint forces at the US Marine Corps Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Army Brigade Combat Team, or similarly sized joint force to and across the beach. These craft incorporate improvements over the legacy LCAC to increase range and lift capability. The new craft can travel at a sustained 35 knots, and has an increased service life of 30 years.