The first landing craft utility vessel constructed by Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., for the U.S. Navy has begun builder's sea trials, the shipbuilder announced Friday.
LCU 1710 began sea trials following dock trials on Feb. 2, where major ship systems were tested, Austal USA said. The vessel was launched in August 2025.
The 139'x31' vessel is the first in a series of up to 12 landing craft under construction at Austal USA under a Navy contract awarded in 2023. If all options are exercised, the deal would be worth $379.7 million.
The 1700-class LCUs will replace the existing LCU 1610-class of amphibious landing craft. The new vessels will transport vehicles, personnel, and cargo between ship and shore with a heavy-lift capacity equivalent to several C-17 aircraft, supporting Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary operations.
The steel-hull vessels feature a roll-on/roll-off monohull configuration with hydraulically controlled bow and stern ramps that allow multiple vessels to connect and form a causeway. The craft are designed to be transported within, and load/unload from, the well decks of amphibious assault ships and can carry loads up to 3.5 meters high above the vehicle deck. With a crew of 13, each vessel has a range of 1,200 nautical miles at 8 knots and a top speed of 11 knots.
Swiftships, Morgan City, La., was initially contracted in 2018 to build at least seven LCUs but reportedly struggled to finalize the design. The Navy terminated the contract in 2024 and does not plan to take delivery of any Swiftships-built LCUs.
The Navy also plans to procure nine additional LCUs from another shipyard beyond the Austal USA contract.
