It is part of the SC-21 surface combat ship plan carried out by the U.S. Navy in the early 1990s to replace the Perry-class frigate, and is a reflection of the transformation of American ships after the Cold War.

Littoral Combat Ship (Abbreviation: LCS), is part of the SC-21 surface combat ship plan carried out by the U.S. Navy in the early 1990s to replace the Perry-class frigate , and is a reflection of the transformation of US ships after the Cold War.

Littoral combat ships are based on the tactical situations that the US Navy may face after the end of the Cold War. The main opponent's regular naval and air force are not strong, and it is difficult to directly threaten the US combat fleet at sea. The main task is to send weapons and troops from the sea to land. Therefore, Littoral combat ships mainly focus on various low-intensity combat needs in the waters of the enemy's coastal countries, including dealing with more likely threats along the enemy's coast (such as fighting enemy surface boats at close range, anti-submarine combat in shallow waters, clearing mines and deployed by the enemy's coastal countries, etc.

Based on the above design idea, compared with traditional escort ships such as Perry class, the strike firepower is greatly reduced. It uses a hull configuration that can take into account high-speed, wave resistance and stealth, and is built with lightweight high-tech materials so that it can perform tasks and ensure survival in the nearshores of enemy countries full of variables and threats. The littoral combat ships are divided into two configurations, namely the Lockheed Martin Group's Free-class Littoral Combat Ship and the General Dynamics Group's Independent Littoral Combat Ship. Both configurations have their own strengths, and the total number will be about 32 ships.