Austal delivers USS Pierre, last Independence-variant LCS

July 14, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

Austal USA delivered USS Pierre (LCS 38) to the US Navy, the 19th Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) delivered by the company, and the last of the Independence-variants to be delivered.

As disclosed, the delivery ceremony took place on July 11, 2025. This is the second US Navy vessel to be named after Pierre, the capital city of South Dakota.

Delivery documents were signed on board following the successful completion of acceptance trials held the week of June 9, 2025. The trials tested the ship’s major systems and equipment to demonstrate their successful operation and mission readiness.

The ship’s pre-commissioning unit will now begin preparations for fleet introduction.

“The Delivery of the future USS Pierre will be one of our most memorable milestone achievements as it marks the conclusion of Austal USA’s Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship program,” stated Austal USA President Michelle Kruger.

“Our shipbuilding team has poured years of dedication, innovation, and manufacturing excellence into this ship and the results are evident. Though USS Pierre is the last LCS Austal USA will deliver, we remain committed to supporting the U.S. Navy with innovative maritime solutions and the highest standards of quality.”

LCSs are fast, agile, platforms designed for near-shore operations, supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence.

LCS variant is playing a key role in advancing the navy’s unmanned programs, with USS Oakland (LCS 24) having recently served as a mothership for unmanned surface vessels and large flight decks supporting unmanned drones during an 18-month deployment to the US 7th Fleet.

USS Tulsa (LCS 16), USS Canberra (LCS 30) and USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) have deployed with the mine countermeasures (MCM) mission package which features airborne and unmanned systems, enhancing littoral capabilities.

USS Canberra is serving a rotational deployment in Bahrain as part of the US 5th Fleet, soon to be joined by Santa Barbara and eventually Tulsa.

USS Pierre is the second ship delivered by Austal USA to the US Navy in less than a month. Earlier on, the company handed over Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport USNS Point Loma (EPF 15).

US Navy accepts delivery of USNS Point Loma

Vessels

Austal USA has nine U.S. Navy vessels and one U.S. Coast Guard cutter under construction, with construction scheduled to begin on a second cutter in early August.