“I continue to be impressed with the outstanding results achieved by the Navy and industry team during acceptance trials for LCS ships. The future USS Savannah set the bar even higher and exceeded expectations. Our warfighting capabilities continue to evolve, and each LCS that meets this milestone further demonstrates progressive improvements in tactical performance and mission readiness,” said LCS program manager Capt. Mike Taylor.

The Navy conducted comprehensive tests of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship’s systems during the trials, spanning multiple functional areas including main propulsion, auxiliaries and electrical systems. LCS 28 also performed a full-power demonstration, steering and quick reversal, anchor drop test and combat system detect-to-engage sequence. Acceptance trials are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship to the Navy, which is planned for late June.

Following delivery and commissioning, Savannah will sail to California to be homeported in San Diego with sister ships USS Independence (LCS 2), USS Coronado (LCS 4), USS Jackson (LCS 6), USS Montgomery (LCS 8), USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), USS Omaha (LCS 12), USS Manchester (LCS 14), USS Tulsa (LCS 16), USS Charleston (LCS 18), USS Cincinnati (LCS 20), USS Kansas City (LCS 22), USS Oakland (LCS 24) and USS Mobile (LCS 26).

Four additional Independence-variant ships are under construction at Austal USA in Mobile. Final assembly is underway on Canberra (LCS 30) and Santa Barbara (LCS 32). Austal is fabricating modules for Augusta (LCS 34), and initial fabrication for Kingsville (LCS 36) has begun. The future USS Pierre (LCS 38) will begin fabrication later this year.

LCS is a highly maneuverable, lethal and adaptable warship designed to support focused mine countermeasures, anti-submarine and surface warfare missions. The Independence-variant LCS integrates new technology and capability to affordably support current and future mission, ranging from deep water to the littorals.

LCS is now the Navy’s second-largest surface ship class in production, behind the DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer program. In 2019, three LCSs were delivered to the fleet, four were delivered in 2020, and four will again deliver in 2021 — a shipbuilding delivery pace not seen since the 1990s.