Naval Sea Systems Command issued the service’s initial Request For Proposals (RFP) for the detail design and construction (DD&C) of six Landing Ship Medium (LSM) ships on Jan. 5.
The Marine Corps plans to use 35 LSM-type ships to transport the three Marine Littoral Regiments from shore to shore in a contested operational environment . The 35 total ships are derived from requiring 27 to move the Marines and their equipment and another eight to account for maintenance schedules. The LSM was previously called the Light Amphibious Warship, or LAW.
“We’re on pace to procure in ‘25, delivery in 2029, depending on who you talk to, ….and [Full Operational Capability] in the early ‘30s to mid ‘30s,” Maj. Gen. Marcus Annibale, director of Expeditionary Warfare (N95), said during a panel discussion at the annual Surface Navy Association symposium in Arlington, Va., on Jan. 10.
Beyond DD&C for six ships, the solicitation also covers a Technical Data Package (TDP), Life Cycle Engineering & Support (LCES) and special studies, post delivery support, provisioned items, and lead yard support efforts.
The full solicitation was not posted to the SAM.gov website, but the notice said interested vendors have to send a request to the Navy, whereupon if they qualify they will be provided the full solicitation documents. Responses are due by May 9.
While the Marine Corps wants 35 total LSMs, it has agreed with the Navy to keep the initial capability at 18 LSMs, meaning ships 19 through 35 may ultimately be a mix of other vessels with similar capabilities.
The Marine Corps has contracted with Hornbeck Offshore Services to lease a modified Offshore Support Vessel converted into a Stern Landing Vessel (SLV) as part of a bridging plan to refine the requirements for the LSM and fill the hole of the capability until the LSMs are delivered.
Last September, Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Combat Development and Integration Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl said the Marine Corps will test the first SLV prototype at the Army’s Project Convergence Capstone 4 event, expected to occur this upcoming February and March (Defense Daily, Sept. 7, 2023).
The Marine Corps plans to lease at least three SLVs, with options to later buy them outright.
The Navy and Marine Corps’ previous specifications said they expect the LSMs to be 200 to 400 feet long, transport up to 75 Marines each, have 10,000 square feet of cargo space and be able to travel up to 3,500 nautical miles. The ships will be able to beach and use a bow and/or stern ramp to disembark expeditionary force elements like personnel, vehicles, mission equipment and supplies without any other small boats.
Last May, an LSM Request For Information said the Navy was interested in eventually ramping up production of the selected LSM to allow procuring up to four ships per year (Defense Daily, May 23, 2023).
Annibale said the RFP was released now so industry can start working on the design details.
Heckl also said in September that the Marine Corps is working with five LSM competitors and the Marine Corps will downselect from those choices.
“So LSM is tracking well, I’m very positive on where we’re at with that in a resource constrained environment,” Annibale added this week.
Annibale also told reporters while he did not have the information on when the Navy specifically plans to award the contract, the timeline is measured in months rather than years.