WASHINGTON D.C. - With the Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) delayed by several years, the Marine Corps is looking to other ship classes in the fleet as short-term solution to move Marines around the Indo-Pacific. The Marine Corps’ annual Force Design 2030 update, released May 9, described plans to use the Expeditionary Fast Transport and Expeditionary Transfer Dock as temporary solutions while the Marine Corps refine the requirements for the LAW program. "(W)e will explore a family of systems bridging plan. including Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESB), Expeditionary Fast Transport (T-EPF), Landing Craft Utility (LCU), and leased hulls to provide a basic level of mobility," the document reads. "Although not optimal," these ships will provide "both operational capability and a sound basis for live experimentation and refining detailed requirements for the LAW program.” Gulf Coast Note: Austal USA was awarded a $230.5M contract on May 3 for the detail design and construction of EPF 16, the Navy’s newest Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship. The Mobile, Ala.-based shipbuilder has delivered 12 EPFs to the Navy. Three additional EPF’s are currently under construction. (Source: USNI News 05/10/22) Marines Look to EPFs, ESBs as Interim Solution for Light Amphibious Warship - USNI News
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