BAE Systems Maritime has set out further detail on its joint UK–Norway Littoral Strike Craft (LSC) programme, describing it as a fast, low-signature vessel designed to support modern amphibious operations in contested coastal environments.
Developed in partnership with Norwegian shipbuilder Umoe Mandal, the LSC is intended to provide rapid over-the-horizon insertion of small strike teams and equipment, operating in areas where larger naval platforms may be constrained. The craft is designed to transport personnel “fit to fight”, combining high speed with improved seakeeping and survivability.
According to BAE Systems, recent design assurance trials at the Wolfson Unit in Southampton tested the craft at speeds of up to 50 knots and in sea state 5 conditions. The tank testing programme assessed reliability, survivability and seakeeping, with the company stating the results validated the maturity of the high-performance design.
The LSC is positioned as a reconfigurable, multi-role platform. Beyond troop transport, it is designed to integrate a range of sensing and effect capabilities, supporting missions from counterterrorism to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. BAE describes the concept as a shift in surface manoeuvre craft, bridging open ocean transit and complex littoral operations.
The collaboration, the firm say, follows a visit to Umoe Mandal’s Norwegian yard focused on design-for-manufacture and industrial workshare.
Has the MoD shown any interest in this as the LCVP replacement?
As contested was one of the excuses to get rid of LPDs, I hope they’ve got a good range…..
Contract issue for CIC is supposed to be very soon, it will probably be wrapped up with the other DIP decisions. BAE are competing with BMT’s catamaran LCVP thing, Griffon’s half-hovercraft and Leidos UK’s Sea Dagger stern landing craft. 200km transit radius at high speed was one of the key requirements of CIC so they will all have good range.
My money is on a shoot-out between Leidos UK and BAE, as Griffon’s concept looks too novel (though I think it would work, it’s smaller than I initially thought) and BMT’s catamaran looks too slow and unstealthy.
Ah, thanks. You’re the man ( boy!? 😉) for all things contracts and concepts.
I do like the way we are interacting with the JEF nations, particularly Norway. There is so much we can do together. This is another step forward.
The Scandis are quite possibly our most natural European allies; non-EU, isolated from mainland Europe beyond a few Danish bridges, disproportionately affected by the maritime and air domains, and are positioned along our greatest threat vector from Russia.