Austal USA has officially started construction of Icarus (WMSM 920), the second Stage 2 Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) for the United States Coast Guard. The milestone, announced on August 6, 2025, follows a $273 million contract option that also funds materials for a third vessel. Stage 2, valued at up to $3.3 billion, will deliver as many as 11 cutters designed to strengthen the Coast Guard’s presence in open-ocean and Arctic operations.
The 110-meter-long OPCs are built at Austal’s Mobile, Alabama facility using an optimized hull structure and modular construction techniques, aimed at lowering lifecycle costs and speeding up production. Each vessel can stay at sea for 60 days, reach speeds of over 22 knots, and carry helicopters, unmanned systems, and multiple small boats. Equipped with advanced radar, electronic warfare systems, and a range of weaponry, the OPCs are intended for missions including law enforcement, search and rescue, drug interdiction, and homeland defense.
The Heritage-class program is replacing the Coast Guard’s aging medium endurance cutters, many of which have exceeded their service life. With $4.3 billion in newly authorized funding, the USCG plans to accelerate deliveries and complete the 25-ship program by 2038. The Icarus follows the Pickering (WMSM 919), which is already under construction, and represents a critical step toward modernizing the Coast Guard’s offshore fleet for 21st-century maritime security challenges.
