近岸戰鬥艦（Littoral Combat Ship，LCS）是美國海軍下一代水面戰艦的第一種設計。作為瀕海區域（靠近海岸）作戰的相對小型水面船隻，LCS比海軍的飛彈驅逐艦更小，與國際上所指的護衛艦相仿。然而，LCS還具有小型攻擊運輸艦的能力，具有一個可操作兩架SH-60海鷹直昇機(SH-60 Seahawk)的飛行甲板和機庫，還有從船尾回收和釋放小艇的能力，以及足夠大的貨運量來運輸一只小型攻擊部隊、裝甲車、和碼頭接駁器。LCS的標準武裝是一門Mk 110 57公釐快炮，並可依照不同任務套件選用非線視界發射系統（Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System）或Mark 54 MAKO 輕型魚雷及其他武裝。它還能搭載無人空中、水面和水下載具。LCS強調速度、可根據戰鬥任務類型靈活調整的模組空間和較淺的吃水。

海軍部長 Gordon R. England 描述 LCS 的概念是「建立一個小型、快速、可操作、相對便宜的 DD(X) 家族成員。」它易於根據不同的作戰角色而重新配置，包括反潛、反水雷、反水面艦艇、情報、監控和偵察，國土防禦、海上攔截、特種作戰、後勤保障。得益於它的模組化設計，LCS 能替代更慢、更特製的艦艇如掃雷艇和攻擊艇。

The littoral combat ship (LCS) is a class of relatively small surface vessels intended for operations in the littoral zone (close to shore) by the United States Navy It was "envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals."

The Freedom class and the Independence class are the first two variants of LCS by the U.S. Navy. LCS designs are slightly smaller than the U.S. Navy's guided missile frigates, and have been likened to corvettes of other navies. However, the LCS designs add the capabilities of a small assault transport with a flight deck and hangar large enough to base two SH-60B/F or MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopters, the capability to recover and launch small boats from a stern ramp, and enough cargo volume and payload to deliver a small assault force with fighting vehicles to a roll-on/roll-off port facility. The standard armament for the LCS are Mk 110 57 mm guns and Rolling Airframe Missiles. It will also be able to launch autonomous air, surface, and underwater vehicles.^[3] Although the LCS designs offer less air defense and surface-to-surface capabilities than comparable destroyers, the LCS concept emphasizes speed, flexible mission module space and a shallow draft.