The White House has selected a consortium led by Bollinger Shipyards to design and build six Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs) for the U.S. Coast Guard, marking a pivotal investment in U.S. polar capabilities. The program, announced in October 2025, aims to bolster American presence and operational reach in the increasingly contested Arctic region.
Strategic Imperative: Securing U.S. Interests in the Arctic
The Arctic is rapidly emerging as a theater of strategic competition, driven by climate change-induced ice melt, which is opening new maritime routes and access to untapped natural resources. The U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic Security Cutter program is a direct response to rising Russian and Chinese activity in the region, including the deployment of nuclear-powered icebreakers and dual-use infrastructure along the Northern Sea Route.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Arctic Strategy and the Coast Guard’s own High Latitude Mission Needs Statement, the United States lacks sufficient heavy icebreaking capability to ensure year-round access and presence. The ASC program is designed to fill this gap, complementing the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program currently under construction by Halter Marine (now Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding).
Program Overview: Six Vessels, International Team
The ASC program envisions six medium ice-capable vessels optimized for multi-mission operations in the Arctic, including search and rescue, environmental response, maritime domain awareness, and defense readiness. Bollinger Shipyards will serve as the prime contractor, supported by a global team including:
- Vard Marine (Canada/Norway): Responsible for platform design and Arctic engineering expertise.
- Fincantieri Marine Group (Italy/USA): Providing shipbuilding support and systems integration.
- Technology partners: Unnamed U.S. and European firms will supply propulsion, navigation, and C4ISR systems.
The vessels will be built at Bollinger’s facilities in Louisiana and Mississippi, leveraging the company’s expanded infrastructure following its acquisition of Halter Marine. The program is expected to create or sustain over 1,000 jobs across the Gulf Coast region.
Design Characteristics and Capabilities
While detailed specifications remain classified or under development, the Arctic Security Cutters are expected to be approximately 110–120 meters in length with a full-load displacement of around 9,000–10,000 tons. Key projected features include:
- Icebreaking capability in up to 1.5 meters of first-year sea ice with pressure ridges.
- Integrated bridge and navigation systems optimized for polar operations.
- Flight deck and hangar for MH-60 or unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
- Multi-mission spaces and containerized mission modules (e.g., pollution response, medical).
- C4ISR suite compatible with U.S. Navy and DHS systems, including Link-16 and SATCOM.
The ASCs will be capable of operating autonomously for up to 90 days in remote polar regions and are expected to be armed with light defensive systems such as .50 caliber mounts and possibly a 25 mm autocannon. The design will prioritize survivability, redundancy, and crew habitability in extreme cold-weather environments.
Complementarity with Polar Security Cutter Program
The ASC program is separate but complementary to the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program, which aims to deliver three heavy icebreakers with greater icebreaking and endurance capabilities. While the PSCs are designed for deep Arctic and Antarctic missions, the ASCs will provide more flexible, regionally persistent presence in the U.S. Arctic EEZ and surrounding waters.
According to Coast Guard planners, the ASC fleet will enable year-round maritime domain awareness, support for indigenous communities, and rapid response to incidents in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas. The combination of PSCs and ASCs will give the U.S. Coast Guard a tiered polar capability for the first time in decades.
Funding, Timeline, and Industrial Implications
The ASC program is funded under the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with an initial tranche of $1.2 billion allocated for design and construction of the lead ship and long-lead materials for follow-on vessels. Full program cost is expected to exceed $5 billion over a 10-year period.
Key milestones include:
- 2026–2027: Detailed design and long-lead procurement.
- 2028: Keel laying of first ASC.
- 2030: Delivery of lead ship to Coast Guard.
- 2031–2035: Delivery of remaining five vessels.
The program represents a major win for Bollinger Shipyards, which has steadily expanded its naval portfolio through acquisitions and partnerships. It also signals a shift toward international collaboration in U.S. shipbuilding, particularly for specialized vessels requiring Arctic expertise. Vard’s experience in designing Canadian Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) and Fincantieri’s modular shipbuilding approach are expected to accelerate delivery timelines and reduce cost risk.
Geopolitical Context and Future Outlook
The ASC program arrives amid growing concerns over Russian militarization of the Arctic and China’s declaration of itself as a “near-Arctic state.” Russia operates over 40 icebreakers, including nuclear-powered variants, and has reopened Soviet-era bases across the Arctic. China has launched two polar research vessels with icebreaking capability and is investing in dual-use Arctic infrastructure through the Polar Silk Road initiative.
U.S. defense planners see the ASCs as a critical tool for presence, deterrence, and partnership-building in the High North. The vessels will also support joint operations with the U.S. Navy, Canadian Coast Guard, and Arctic Council partners. As Arctic sea lanes grow in commercial and strategic importance, the ASCs will help ensure that the United States can uphold freedom of navigation and respond to crises in one of the world’s most challenging maritime environments.
