The Navy accepted delivery of the next generation landing craft, Ship to Shore Connector (SSC), Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 103, Dec. 22.
The delivery of LCAC 103 comes after the 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.
LCACs/SSCs are used primarily to haul vehicles, heavy equipment, and supplies through varied environmental conditions from amphibious ships to over the beach. Delivery of this craft will significantly enhance the Navy and Marine Corps team’s capability to execute a broad spectrum of missions well into the 21st century, from humanitarian assistance and disaster response to multidimensional amphibious assault.
“LCACs provide our Navy and Marine Corps team with the needed capability to complete their missions with additional agility and speed,” said Capt. Scot Searles, program manager, Amphibious Assault and Connectors Programs, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “The reliability and flexibility of these next generation craft make them an essential asset to the fleet as they protect the maritime domain now and in the future.”
LCACs are built with similar configurations, dimensions, and clearances to the 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 program is currently in serial production on LCACs 104 – 115. Recently, LCAC 101, successfully completed Controlled Damage Testing, an event equivalent to the Total Ship Survivability Testing performed on Battle Force class ships to demonstrate mission readiness and survivability.
As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, boats and craft.