WEBVTT 00:01.509 --> 00:04.210 - [Narrator] In a new era of global competition, 00:04.550 --> 00:07.674 the strategic landscape is being redefined. 00:08.856 --> 00:10.725 Nowhere is this more apparent 00:10.725 --> 00:13.325 than in the littorals of the Indo-Pacific. 00:14.103 --> 00:17.456 Stability and ensuring a free and open maritime environment 00:17.456 --> 00:19.579 requires presence, agility, 00:19.579 --> 00:22.516 and a forward-thinking approach to naval power. 00:23.183 --> 00:25.457 The stage is set and our challenge is clear. 00:25.457 --> 00:28.356 How do we project influence and deterrence 00:28.356 --> 00:30.443 across thousands of miles of contested 00:30.443 --> 00:32.554 sea and coastlines? 00:34.364 --> 00:37.200 Meeting this challenge requires a new naval asset. 00:37.200 --> 00:39.234 In December 2025, 00:39.234 --> 00:42.569 the Navy approved a plan to accelerate this capability. 00:43.774 --> 00:46.997 The solution is the medium landing ship, or LSM, 00:46.997 --> 00:49.907 based on the proven LST 100 design. 00:51.575 --> 00:54.420 By selecting a mature in-service platform, 00:54.420 --> 00:56.637 the Navy can build these ships at speed, 00:56.637 --> 00:58.654 adding critical capacity to the fleet 00:58.654 --> 01:00.474 quickly and affordably. 01:01.500 --> 01:03.366 This is a fiscally disciplined choice 01:03.366 --> 01:05.976 that puts a vital capability in the hands of our warfighters 01:05.976 --> 01:07.971 on a responsible timeline. 01:10.419 --> 01:12.521 At approximately 100 meters long, 01:12.521 --> 01:15.831 the LST 100 is a versatile shore-to-shore vessel. 01:15.831 --> 01:18.472 Its key feature is the ability to beach itself 01:18.472 --> 01:20.431 on austere shorelines, 01:20.431 --> 01:22.446 delivering over 800 tons of cargo 01:22.446 --> 01:24.416 directly onto land. 01:26.299 --> 01:28.613 This includes vehicles, sustainment, 01:28.613 --> 01:31.561 embarked forces, and long-range fires assets 01:31.561 --> 01:33.590 like NEMESIS and HIMARS. 01:34.314 --> 01:37.173 With a range of over 3400 nautical miles 01:37.173 --> 01:40.287 and a flight deck for UAS operations and replenishment, 01:40.287 --> 01:42.596 it is built for sustained operations 01:42.596 --> 01:44.880 in the vast Pacific theater. 01:46.343 --> 01:48.069 Crucially, the LST 100 01:48.069 --> 01:50.220 is not a traditional amphibious warfare ship 01:50.220 --> 01:52.240 designed for large-scale assault. 01:52.240 --> 01:54.444 It is a complementary asset providing the essential 01:54.444 --> 01:56.490 intratheater logistics and maneuver 01:56.490 --> 01:58.487 that enable our larger amphibious fleet 01:58.487 --> 02:00.257 to do its job. 02:01.269 --> 02:03.047 The LSM is the linchpin for the 02:03.047 --> 02:06.218 mobility and maneuver of our naval expeditionary forces. 02:06.218 --> 02:09.697 These ships will deploy in task-organized units of action, 02:09.697 --> 02:12.061 enabling them to establish a distributed 02:12.061 --> 02:14.204 combat-credible forward presence. 02:14.854 --> 02:16.326 From these austere bases, 02:16.326 --> 02:19.421 our forces can execute a powerful sea denial strategy. 02:21.146 --> 02:23.074 Armed with advanced anti-ship weaponry, 02:23.074 --> 02:24.756 they can strike from the shore, 02:24.756 --> 02:26.683 holding adversary fleets at risk 02:26.683 --> 02:29.208 and controlling key maritime terrain. 02:31.910 --> 02:34.993 The LSM program is a cornerstone of integrated deterrence. 02:34.993 --> 02:37.300 Each vessel is a node in a resilient 02:37.300 --> 02:38.892 joint force kill web. 02:38.892 --> 02:41.288 The LSM is a vital part of the vision 02:41.288 --> 02:43.064 for a modernized Golden Fleet, 02:43.064 --> 02:46.065 a future force that is more capable, lethal, 02:46.065 --> 02:48.113 and ready to counter any threat. 02:48.113 --> 02:50.155 It represents a strategic investment 02:50.155 --> 02:52.358 in an affordable, effective platform 02:52.358 --> 02:55.732 the provides outsized returns for regional security. 02:57.069 --> 03:00.293 The medium landing ship, forward, flexible and formidable, 03:00.293 --> 03:01.877 ready to secure the littorals 03:01.877 --> 03:04.631 and ensure American maritime dominance.