The US Coast Guard is in the midst of a significant modernization effort to replace its aging fleet of high-endurance cutters, medium-endurance cutters, and patrol craft with a new generation of vessels.
This process, outlined in the Coast Guard’s Program of Record (POR) and detailed in the Congressional Research Service’s March 5, 2025, report, involves the procurement of National Security Cutters (NSCs), Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and Fast Response Cutters (FRCs).
These acquisitions are aimed at enhancing the Coast Guard’s operational capacity, ensuring it can meet the evolving demands of national security, search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental protection.
National Security Cutters (NSCs): The Backbone of the Coast Guard’s Fleet
National Security Cutters represent the Coast Guard’s largest and most capable general-purpose vessels. These ships are replacing the aging Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters, which have been in service for decades.
With an estimated average procurement cost of $670 million per ship, the NSCs are the cornerstone of the service’s modernization efforts.
The Coast Guard had initially planned for the procurement of 8 NSCs as part of its 2004 Program of Record; however, Congress has provided funding for 11, recognizing the importance of bolstering the Coast Guard’s capability.
As of April 2024, 10 NSCs have already entered service, with the 11th currently under construction.
The proposed FY2025 budget includes $7.0 million for procurement funding for these vessels, along with an additional $50.0 million for the 11th NSC as part of the Coast Guard’s Unfunded Priorities List (UPL).
These vessels play a crucial role in a wide array of missions, including counter-narcotics operations, search and rescue, and maritime security in both domestic and international waters. With their superior range and capabilities, the NSCs significantly enhance the Coast Guard’s ability to maintain national security on the high seas.
Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs): Replacing Aging Medium-Endurance Cutters
The Offshore Patrol Cutter program is designed to replace the Coast Guard’s fleet of medium-endurance cutters, which are currently aging and increasingly less effective in fulfilling their mission requirements.
As of March 2025, the OPC program has faced challenges, including cost overruns and delays. Originally estimated to cost $12.5 billion, the program’s costs have ballooned to $17.6 billion due to issues with design, construction, and schedule management.
These delays have been particularly pronounced, with the first OPC not expected to enter service until June 2029—six and a half years later than initially projected.
Despite these setbacks, the OPC program remains one of the Coast Guard’s highest priorities. With an average procurement cost of $513 million per ship, the program aims to procure 25 OPCs, replacing 29 medium-endurance cutters.
The Coast Guard has already procured 65 OPCs through FY2024, and the first four OPCs are being built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Florida. The fifth OPC, which marks the first vessel to be built by Austal USA, began construction in August 2024.
The proposed FY2025 budget includes $530 million for the procurement of additional OPCs, with the cost and schedule issues expected to be managed moving forward.
The Offshore Patrol Cutters are expected to provide the Coast Guard with enhanced capabilities for extended operations in areas such as counterdrug missions, illegal fishing enforcement, and search and rescue. Despite the delays and cost increases, the OPCs are critical to maintaining the Coast Guard’s ability to operate effectively in a rapidly evolving maritime security environment.
Fast Response Cutters (FRCs): Enhancing Domestic and Regional Operations
The Fast Response Cutter program is focused on replacing the Coast Guard’s aging Island-class patrol boats. Unlike the larger and more expensive NSCs and OPCs, FRCs are smaller, more affordable vessels, costing approximately $65 million per ship.
These cutters are designed to provide rapid response capabilities for operations such as coastal security, search and rescue, and law enforcement in domestic waters.
As of FY2024, the Coast Guard has procured a total of 65 FRCs, with 57 already commissioned into service.
The Coast Guard’s proposed FY2025 budget requests $216 million to procure two additional FRCs, specifically for operations in the Indo-Pacific region. These additional FRCs will help enhance the Coast Guard’s presence in an area of increasing strategic importance, where the US is working to maintain maritime security and deter potential threats.
While smaller and less expensive than the OPCs and NSCs, FRCs play an essential role in maintaining the Coast Guard’s ability to respond quickly to domestic and regional challenges. Their cost-effectiveness and speed make them invaluable for a wide range of missions in US territorial waters.
Read more about the CRS report here.
Conclusion
The Coast Guard’s cutter procurement program is a critical effort to modernize and expand the service’s capabilities. While the National Security Cutters, Offshore Patrol Cutters, and Fast Response Cutters each serve different roles within the fleet, all are essential to the Coast Guard’s ability to perform its broad range of missions, from national security and law enforcement to search and rescue and environmental protection.
Although the procurement programs for OPCs and NSCs have faced challenges in terms of cost overruns and schedule delays, the importance of these vessels cannot be overstated. The proposed funding for FY2025 is a step toward ensuring the Coast Guard remains fully equipped to address current and future challenges in an increasingly complex maritime security landscape.
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