The US Navy has received the final ship in its Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) series—the LCS 38, named USS Pierre. This delivery from Austal USA concludes the Independence-variant arm of the LCS program, which began over 15 years ago. The USS Pierre was launched in August 2024 and underwent successful acceptance trials in June 2025, marking its readiness for commissioning later this fall in San Diego, California.
The Navy’s LCS fleet was developed with two distinct platforms: the Freedom-class by Lockheed Martin and the trimaran-hull Independence-class by Austal. These vessels were intended to deliver rapid, versatile capability for littoral—or close-to-shore—combat operations. Key missions include mine detection and neutralization, anti-surface warfare, and support roles for larger warships.
Despite these ambitious goals, the LCS program faced persistent setbacks, including cost overruns, technical reliability issues, and logistical challenges associated with their modular mission package system. These difficulties ultimately led to the early retirement of several LCS vessels, some decommissioned after less than 10 years in service. Still, the completion of the USS Pierre signals the formal end of the Independence-class production and underscores a pivotal phase in the Navy’s transition toward newer, more adaptable surface combatants.
