U.S. Navy Prepares Next-Gen Hovercraft Capable of Reaching 80% of World’s Coastlines

The U.S. Navy has awarded a $230 million contract to Textron Systems Corporation for building two ship-to-shore connector craft (SSC) at its New Orleans, Louisiana, shipyard, to replace the aging hovercraft fleet.

The new vessels will provide U.S. naval forces with access to around 80% of the world’s coasts, given their design advantages, which would enable them to operate in challenging and contested environments.

The main task of SSC would be to transport personnel and other supplies off amphibious vessels, thereby supporting amphibious operations, said Larry D. Randle Junior, the Senior VP of Marine Systems.

He also added that Textron would continue to build mission-ready warships for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. These new ships will be at the forefront of the Navy’s amphibious warfare strategy and expeditionary missions.

They would move personnel, equipment, and vital materials from offshore ships to land-based facilities in places where traditional ports might not be available, thereby improving logistics and deployment. The two craft being built under the contract modification have better designs than the previous hovercraft used by the Navy.

The SSCs would be able to accommodate a greater payload of 74 tonnes and maintain high speed while supporting operational demands across an array of environments.

The ships would enable the Navy to extend the time between overhauls, helping reduce maintenance demands and boosting fleet availability.

Till now, Textron has delivered 18 craft for the U.S. Navy, with 13 additional ones in different stages of production and testing. SSCs can also be used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in remote regions that have been impacted by natural disasters. With 1600 square-feet of deck space, the vessels can accommodate at least 4 reconnaissance vehicles.