Fincantieri secures US$30M contract for US Navy landing ship programme

US shipbuilder Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG) has received a US$30M contract from the US Navy to begin preliminary work on the first four Medium Landing Ship (LSM) units.

FMG, the US subsidiary of Italy’s Fincantieri Group, was selected in February to construct the first four amphibious ships. Bollinger Shipyards is also part of the programme. The funding allows FMG to purchase long -lead-time materials and begin key production preparations ahead of a Q4 2026 construction start, the shipbuilder said. This will accelerate the LSM programme and precede future construction contract awards under the Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) model, pending approvals.

“The award of this contract represents an important step in the evolution of our long-standing partnership with the US Navy,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, chief executive and managing director of Fincantieri.

Over the past decade, Fincantieri has invested more than US$800M to enhance its US shipyards. With a workforce of 3,000 workers, the shipbuilder says it can support multiple naval programmes concurrently.

LSM and the next phase of amphibious capability

The LSM is a new class of 18-35 amphibious ships to be constructed at several shipyards in the United States. It will bridge the gap between smaller, short-range landing craft and the US Navy’s long-duration, multi-purpose amphibious warfare ships. With the LSM initiative, the US Navy aims to enhance its capability to transport and land Marine Corps units in contested environments.

In December 2025, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) selected the Landing Ship Transport (LST) 100 design for the LSM programme. Developed by Dutch shipbuilder Damen, the LST 100 is 100.7 m long with a beam of 16 m and a draught of 3.6 m. The vessel is designed for a wide range of operations; capable of transporting personnel, vehicles, equipment, and cargo, it can support patrol, landing, survey and reconnaissance missions, as well as humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts.

In related news, the LST 100 was selected by the Australian Defence Force in 2024 as the preferred design for its Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) programme. A total of eight LCH units will be built by local shipbuilder Austal over 12 years, with the construction set to commence in 2026.