The Long Range Interceptor (LRI) is an 11-meter (35 feet) high speed launch vessel designed to be deployed from United States Coast Guard cutters via a rear launching ramp. [1] The Long Range Interceptor is an aluminum boat, powered by Ultrajet brand water-jets, for intercepting and boarding suspect vessels. [2] [3] It mounts a radar, special shock-proof seats, and can travel at 35 knots (65 km/h). They can be armed with machine guns or grenade launchers, and can be equipped with ballistic panels for crew protection when required.
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The National Security Cutters (NSC) have a rear launching/retrieval ramp, and carry two launches, either two of the smaller 7-meter USCG Short Range Prosecutors, or two USCG Long Range Interceptors, or one of each. [4] [5]
Under the Integrated Deepwater System Program, [6] the US Coast Guard's outside private contracting company, Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), signed a $2.9 million contract for the construction of one Long Range Interceptor in February 2006 with Willard Marine. [7] [8] [9] However, because the LRI's design did not meet Coast Guard's requirements, the Coast Guard planned to hold a full and open competition for additional LRIs that would comply with future NSCs requirements. [10]
In June 2012, the United States Coast Guard selected MetalCraft Marine U.S. in Cape Vincent, New York, and awarded a five-year production contract with a potential total value of up to $10.2 million with the option to build up to ten of the latest version of the Long Range Interceptor (LRI-II). [3] On December 12, 2013, the Coast Guard placed a delivery order valued at $3.973 million for the first four LRI-II cutter boats. [3] The first LRI-II was delivered on February 20, 2013, and commenced testing aboard the Coast Guard's first National Security Cutter, the USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750). [2] [3] The LRI-II project was approved for full-rate production on June 27, 2013, after successful operational and interface testing activities with the Bertholf. [3] The third LRI-II was delivered in November 2014 to the USCGC Waesche (WMSL-751), [11] and the fourth LRI-II was delivered in February 2015 to the fourth NSC, the USCGC Hamilton (WMSL-753). [12] By that time, the Coast Guard had ordered six LRI-IIs from MetalCraft.