The US Navy has awarded the US subsidiary of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri a $30-million contract to formally kick off the first phase of the Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program.
The deal covers Fincantieri Marine Group’s procurement of long-lead-time materials and execution of engineering and related activities to build the first four vessels.
Construction is planned to begin as early as the fourth quarter of this year.
Fincantieri CEO and Managing Director Pierroberto Folgiero described the award as representing “an important step in the evolution of our long-standing partnership with the US Navy.”
This follows the service’s request for proposals, issued in February, where it was seeking a vessel construction manager to oversee the simultaneous construction of LSM ships across multiple yards, enabling faster delivery and controlled costs.
LSM Program
The US Navy’s LSM program aims to build up to 35 vessels for amphibious transport, logistics, and near-shore deployments.
It will use a Damen LST-100 design — selected in late 2025 — for its rapid fielding potential and lower risk compared to custom concepts.
Measuring roughly 100 meters (328 feet) long, the LST-100 can accommodate up to 500,000 kilograms (1.1 million pounds) of payload or over 200 soldiers.
It can sail at speeds of 15 knots (28 kilometers/17 miles per hour) and has a range exceeding 3,400 nautical miles (6,297 kilometers/3,913 miles per hour).
