Birdon has been awarded a contract by the US Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) to build two prototype vessels to demonstrate its Ancillary Surface Connector-Medium (ASC-M) design.
“Our specialist naval architects and engineers designed this craft from the ground up, integrating cutting-edge sonar and fuel systems to enhance operational success,” Birdon CEO, Jamie Bruce, said.
Under the contract, Birdon aims to deliver next-generation landing craft solutions to inform future capabilities, tactics, and procedures under the Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 objectives.
MCWL’s interest in Birdon’s technology and concepts led to the company being competitively selected as the sole provider to develop a high-performance, medium-sized landing craft tailored to meet the Marine Corps’ specific operational needs.
“C&C’s capabilities and proximity to Birdon’s New Orleans operations make them the ideal partner for this project. Their ability to scale production gives us the flexibility to meet future demands," Bruce stated.
Birdon has partnered with C&C Marine and Repair in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, for the prototyping effort. The two vessels will be created at C&C’s facilities near New Orleans. Construction on the first vessel will commence in June 2025, with delivery scheduled no later than June 2026. C&C was chosen by Birdon due to the company's facilities being able to construct flat-bottomed vessels like the ASC-M.
The ASC-M was designed to carry up to 40 embarked troops and 54 tons of cargo, with minimal draft for manoeuvrability, stability, and long-range ocean transit purposes. To ensure safe landings on uncharted beaches, Birdon worked with a specialist sonar company to develop and integrate an advanced forward looking sonar system, allowing operators to detect obstacles and assess beach gradients well ahead of the vessel. According to Birdon, the vessel was created to beach and de-beach in gradients significantly shallower than existing landing craft can support, providing enhanced amphibious operations capability.