Vigor to Build US Army Landing Craft
The U.S. Army has chosen the Vigor design for its Maneuver Support Vessel (Light), MSV(L), a new generation of landing craft to replace the aging LCM-8 Mike boats.
“This award is the culmination of a five year process of research and development that first began with Kvichak prior to its merger with Vigor,” said Frank Foti, Vigor CEO. “We are grateful for the exceptional work done by our entire team and honored to have been selected to serve the Army in this important project.”
The Vigor MSV(L) design was developed in partnership with BMT following a detailed study of the Army’s unique needs and the available design options to fulfill those needs. It dramatically improves the capabilities of the current LCM-8 and provides the optimal combination of performance, operational flexibility and life-cycle cost while maintaining the reliability and versatility of the Army’s current craft.
The landing craft’s tribow monohull is an innovative yet deceptively simple design that provides superior maneuverability and stability in high sea states, through the littorals and within inland waterways in support of land-based operations.
“Phase one of the program will begin immediately and center on design refinement and prototype construction,” said Tim Kolb, general manager of Vigor Ballard who spearheaded the proposal process. “The contract calls for one prototype vessel, four vessels under low rate production, and up to thirty two additional vessels for use by Army Mariners in even the most difficult environments.”
The contract has a total value of $979,390,000 over a 10 year period and will provide sustained full time employment for roughly 200 skilled artisans.
Vigor’s team currently consists of a number of key partners including BMT, Gladding-Hearn and Northrop Grumman.