Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) as Logistics Enablers in Contested Scenarios

Abstract

Project Summary Maritime logistics assets are projected to be insufficient for supporting the Navy’s future operational concepts, particularly in the context of great power competition. Current logistics platforms lack the resilience, flexibility, and robustness needed to sustain distributed expeditionary and naval forces. As the Navy prepares for potential high-intensity conflict, it is essential to evaluate the viability of readily available platforms for meeting sustainment requirements. This study assessed the capabilities of the Freedom and Independence variants of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) in performing sustainment functions, specifically in providing supply and medical evacuation support. Using design of experiments techniques, a meta-model was developed to analyze the LCS’s performance across a range of factors affecting its ability to deliver sustainment effectively. The results provide insights into the operational strengths and limitations of the LCS, informing decisions on its role in contested environments and enhancing maritime logistics to enable modern naval concepts and readiness.