MARINETTE, Wis., Dec. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Littoral
Combat Ship (LCS) 15, the future USS Billings, completed Acceptance
Trials in the waters of Lake
Michigan. This is the ship's final significant milestone
before delivery. LCS 15 is the eighth Freedom-variant LCS designed
and built by the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-led industry team, and
is slated for delivery to the U.S. Navy next year.
"LCS 15 is the third ship we've taken through sea trials this
year, and we are proud that the Navy will soon have another
capable, lethal and affordable ship in the fleet," said
Joe DePietro, vice president and
general manager, Small Combatants and Ship Systems, Lockheed
Martin. "The industry team has hit its stride in serial production,
and we're producing increasingly capable ships in quick
succession."
The Freedom-variant LCS integrates new technology and capability
to affordably support current and future mission capability from
deep water to the littorals. The Lockheed Martin-led Freedom team
is in full-rate production and is continuing to deliver for the
Navy. The USS Sioux City (LCS 11) was commissioned in Annapolis, Maryland, Nov. 17.
The trials, included a full-power run, maneuverability testing,
and surface and air detect-to-engage demonstrations of the ship's
combat system. Major systems and features were demonstrated,
including aviation support, small boat launch handling and recovery
and machinery control and automation.
LCS is a highly maneuverable, lethal and adaptable ship,
designed to support focused missions including mine
countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare
missions. The Freedom-variant LCS integrates new technology and
capability to affordably support current and future mission
capability from deep water to the littorals.
"I am extremely proud of our LCS team including our shipbuilders
at Fincantieri Marinette Marine," said Jan
Allman, Fincantieri Marinette Marine president and CEO.
"These are complex vessels, and it takes a strong team effort to
design, build and test these American warships."
There are seven ships in various stages of production and test
at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, where the Freedom-variant LCS is
built. The next Freedom-variant in the class is LCS 17, the future
USS Indianapolis, slated for sea trials in 2019. LCS 19
(St. Louis) is scheduled for
christening and launch Dec. 15.
Additionally, LCS 13 (Wichita) is scheduled for commissioning
Jan. 12 in Jacksonville, Florida.
Click here to view video highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q5Mp0Vwbmk
Click here to view B-roll: https://vimeo.com/304964016
Click here to view photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/143371902@N04/albums/72157704387852215
For more information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/lcs.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that employs approximately
100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the
research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
This year the company received three Edison Awards for
ground-breaking innovations in autonomy, satellite technology and
directed energy.
About Fincantieri Marinette Marine
Fincantieri is the
leading western shipbuilder with a rich history dating back more
than 230 years, and a track record of building more than 7,000
ships. Fincantieri Marine Group is the American subsidiary of
Fincantieri, and operates three Great Lakes Shipyards: Fincantieri
Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, and Fincantieri ACE
Marine. Fincantieri Marine Group's more than 2,100 steelworkers,
craftsman, engineers and technicians in the United States specialize in the design,
construction and maintenance of merchant ships and government
vessels, including for the United States Navy and Coast Guard.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin