The medium landing ship restores a modern LST function

The medium landing ship restores the landing-ship-tank function in a modern form. It can move a company-sized element with vehicles, supplies, and supporting craft into island operations. Recent conflicts reinforce the need for deployed forces to carry their own mobility and logistics instead of relying only on helicopters or lightly equipped raiding parties. If produced in large numbers, the design could also become affordable and attractive to allied navies that need practical amphibious lift. The near-term table requests twenty-three medium landing ships across FY2027 to FY2031, in annual batches of six, six, four, four, and three. Construction at yards outside the busiest major-warship production lines is another part of the proposed expansion.