Lockheed team announces LCS 25 contract
Lockheed Martin’s industry team has been awarded a fully-funded contract from the US Navy to build the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 25, it announced on 1 April.
The contract award includes funding for systems integration, sea-frame construction and testing.
The navy has exercised an option from its block buy contract to build the additional Freedom-class LCS. LCS 25 will be the 11th ship procured under the 2010 block buy contract and the 13th Freedom-class variant overall. LCS 25 is scheduled to be delivered to the navy in 2020.
The Lockheed Martin-led industry team is in full-rate production of the Freedom-class LCS, having delivered three ships of the type to date. Seven ships are in various construction stages at Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin, and three more are in long-lead production.
Joe North, vice president and general manager of littoral ships and systems, Lockheed Martin, said: ‘We are proud to continue our partnership with the US Navy to build and deliver the capable Freedom-class LCS to the fleet.
‘Over 12,000 people and 500 suppliers in 37 states contribute to this critical programme and will continue to do so as we transition to the new Freedom-class frigate in the coming years.’
More from Naval Warfare
-
![UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition]()
UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition
The UK shipbuilder’s full-year results to the end of March revealed the impact of the £140 million charge linked to design changes and rework on the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate programme.
-
![US Navy expands non-standard acquisitions to rapidly field emerging technologies]()
US Navy expands non-standard acquisitions to rapidly field emerging technologies
The US Navy is increasing the use of OTA obligations to accelerate the procurement of seabed-subsea, littoral, expeditionary and uncrewed solutions.
-
![Can Portugal solve NATO’s uncrewed systems development challenge?]()
Can Portugal solve NATO’s uncrewed systems development challenge?
NATO has spent more than a decade building one of the world’s most sophisticated maritime uncrewed experimentation ecosystems, but still lacks a way to translate this testing into alliance-wide operational capability. Portugal now believes it has the answer.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Schiebel’s frigate-first strategy indicates a shift in UAV competition]()
Eurosatory 2026: Schiebel’s frigate-first strategy indicates a shift in UAV competition
Schiebel is pursuing opportunities in the UK and France while leveraging its integration with Naval Group’s FDI frigate programme to create new naval business across Europe.
