Lockheed Martin to begin production of MMSC
Lockheed Martin has received an Undefinitised Contract Action (UCA) contract from the US government for the production of multi-mission surface combatant (MMSC) for Saudi Arabia.
The $450 million contract, announced on 20 July, entails the detailed design and planning for construction of four MMSCs that will be built at Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin.
MMSC utilises the COMBATSS-21 combat management system, built from the Aegis combat system common source library, enabling anti-air and anti-surface capabilities in a small surface combatant platform.
Joe DePietro, VP, Lockheed Martin Small Combatants and Ship Systems, said: ‘The MMSC provides the Royal Saudi Naval Forces a lethal and highly manoeuvrable multi-mission surface combatant, which features the flexibility of the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship steel mono-hull with expanded capabilities that include an integrated Mk41 Vertical Launch System, an increased range of 5,000 nautical miles and speeds in excess of 30kt, making it capable of littoral and open ocean operation and able to confront modern maritime and economic security threats.’
In March 2018, Lockheed Martin was awarded $481 million for long lead material for MMSC.
More from Naval Warfare
-
BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement
Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia has been seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The programme has an estimated value of AU$1.4 billion (US$910 million), with IOC slated for 2032.
-
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.
-
Keel laid for third Hellenic Navy frigate as harbour trials start for first
On 24 March 2022, Greece and Naval Group have signed a contract for three defence and intervention (FDI) frigates. Two warships will be due for delivery in 2025 and the third expected the following year, with the deal including an option to add a fourth frigate to be ready in 2027.