LATEST UPDATES

The Coast Guard commissioned its 10th national security cutter on April 20, 2024, in Charleston, South Carolina. The cutter is named for Charles Calhoun, the first master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard accepted delivery of the 10th national security cutter (NSC) in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on Oct. 13, 2023. The cutter is named for Charles Calhoun, the first master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard christened its 10th NSC, Calhoun, at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, June 4, 2022.

National Security Cutter

For more photos of the national security cutter, visit the image gallery on Flickr.

The Legend-class national security cutter (NSC) is the centerpiece of the Coast Guard’s fleet, capable of executing the most challenging operations, including supporting maritime homeland security and defense missions.

Why this program?

The largest and most technologically advanced of the Coast Guard’s newest classes of cutters, the NSCs replace the aging 378-foot high endurance cutters, which have been in service since the 1960s. Compared to legacy cutters, the NSCs’ design provides better sea-keeping and higher sustained transit speeds, greater endurance and range, and the ability to launch and recover small boats from astern, as well as aviation support facilities and a flight deck for helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.

How is the NSC being acquired?

The NSC Program began under the Deepwater Program as an eight-ship class intended to replace the aging 378-foot high endurance cutters. The first three NSCs – Bertholf, Waesche and Stratton – were acquired under contract with the Integrated Coast Guard Systems industry consortium. As part of the Integrated Deepwater System contract, the NSCs initially were built under a cost-plus-award fee contract. As each subsequent cutter underwent sea trials prior to acceptance and delivery, it became clear that lessons learned through the design and construction processes had improved the efficiency of the building process.

The service awarded a fixed-price contract option to Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. in December 2018 for production of the 10th and 11th NSCs. The 10th NSC, Calhoun, is scheduled for delivery in April 2024.

Program Profile
Asset List
In the News
Resources
Related

Of the Coast Guard’s white-hull patrol cutter fleet, the NSC is the largest and most technologically sophisticated in the Coast Guard. Each NSC is capable of operating in the most demanding open ocean environments, including the hazardous fisheries of the North Pacific and the vast approaches of the Southern Pacific where much of the American narcotics traffic occurs. With robust command, control, communication, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, stern boat launch and aviation facilities, as well as long-endurance station keeping, the NSCs are afloat operational-level headquarters for complex law enforcement and national security missions involving multiple Coast Guard and partner agency participation.

Characteristics

Number Planned: 11
Length: 418 feet
Beam: 54 feet
Draft: 22 feet 6 inches
Displacement: 4500 long tons
Maximum Speed: 28 knots
Range: 12,000 nautical miles
Endurance: 60- to 90-day cycles
Crew: 148

Features

Automated weapons systems capable of stopping rogue vessels far from shore
Large flight deck
State-of-the-market command and control equipment to enhance interoperability
Detection and defense capabilities against chemical, biological or radiological attack
Advanced sensors and other C5ISR equipment to contribute intelligence to a common operating picture and provide enhanced maritime domain awareness