The New Light Amphibious Warship to Be Introduced by the US Marine Corps

[Kim Yundong, Principal Researcher, Maritime Underwater Research Team 2, Defense Technology Quality Institute] The U.S. Navy appears to be initiating a new Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) construction project. This is due to the Marine Corps re-evaluating its force design in the Pacific.

According to the 'Research and Development Portfolio' report submitted by the U.S. Navy to Congress on the 6th, the Navy plans to allocate $30 million for the design of the next-generation medium amphibious ship. This vessel is expected to be based on the Stern Landing Vessel designed by an Australian design firm.

The U.S. Navy hopes to purchase 30 new light amphibious warships that are smaller and have lower operating costs than existing large amphibious ships. The Navy is already studying possible design options, including roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) types equipped with stern ramps.

A U.S. Navy official stated during a briefing held on April 9, 2020, for defense industry representatives that they want to purchase 28 to 30 LAW vessels. The Navy's LAW requirements specify that the amphibious ship should have a length of approximately 200 feet and a cargo space of 8,000 square feet. The LAW is expected to accommodate a crew of fewer than 40 and 75 Marines.

The Navy is reportedly considering modifying existing ship designs or building proven designs through Build to Print construction. Utilizing existing ship designs would reduce construction costs and shorten build times. The Navy plans to issue a basic design contract by the end of this year and aims to begin actual ship purchases by the end of 2022.

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