U.S. Marine Corps Accepts First Australian-Designed Ancillary Surface Craft Prototype for Key Indo-Pacific Logistics.

The U.S. Marine Corps has accepted its first Australian-designed Ancillary Surface Craft prototype, a shallow-draft landing vessel built to move Marines, vehicles, fuel and supplies directly onto austere Indo-Pacific shorelines (Picture Source: USMC)

• 23 Aug, 2026 – 14:00

The U.S. Marine Corps has accepted its first Australian-designed Ancillary Surface Craft prototype, a shallow-draft vessel built to move Marines and supplies directly onto austere shorelines where ports and piers are unavailable. Announced by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory | Futures Directorate following technical acceptance on August 18, 2026, the milestone could help close a critical logistics gap for dispersed forces operating across the Indo-Pacific.

The roughly 150-foot roll-on/roll-off ASC can carry up to 46 tons of cargo and 40 combat-loaded Marines while operating through shallow waters and landing at unimproved sites. Designed to complement the larger Medium Landing Ship, it could provide the final tactical link between offshore logistics hubs and expeditionary forces ashore, strengthening mobility and sustainment during distributed operations in contested littoral areas.