General Dynamics NASSCO and Vard Marine have secured contracts from the US Navy to deliver early-stage design and concept services for the Next Generation Logistics Ship (NGLS) program. Also referred to as the Light Replenishment Oiler initiative, the program was introduced in 2020 to develop a new class of medium-sized vessels capable of supporting logistics, replenishment, and humanitarian missions in contested environments. Under the current awards, NASSCO received $3.9 million while Vard Marine secured $4.5 million. Vard’s work will be conducted at its Houston facility in collaboration with Hanwha Defense USA. The program envisions the construction of 13 vessels, with a detailed design and production contract expected around 2028. These ships are intended to complement larger auxiliary fleets, improving operational flexibility and sustainment capabilities across distributed naval operations.
