MARINETTE, WI— The U.S. Navy has awarded Fincantieri Marinette Marine a $30 million contract for preliminary work on four Landing Ship Medium vessels.
The money will allow FMM to get long-lead-time materials and conduct engineering work. Construction could begin as early as the fourth quarter of this year. The award is structured as a precursor to future construction contracts.
The McClung-class LSM is designed to rapidly move and sustain forces in contested coastal environments. Each ship will have capacity for 500 metric tons of cargo and up to 282 troops.