Construction has begun on the US Navy’s 14th Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Nantucket.
Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine marked the beginning of construction on LCS 27 with a ceremony in Marinette.
The LCS fleet is designed to support mine countermeasures, anti-submarine and surface warfare missions with interchangeable mission modules.
The Freedom-variant LCS is able to integrate Longbow Hellfire missiles, 30mm guns, and manned and unmanned vehicles; and is equipped with Rolling Airframe Missiles and a Mark 110 gun, capable of firing 220 rounds per minute.
Joe DePietro, vice president and general manager of small combatants and ship systems, said: ‘LCS' built-in flexibility makes it unlike any other navy ship in the water today. LCS can serve a multitude of missions to include surface, anti-submarine and mine countermeasure missions by quickly integrating mission equipment and deploying manned and unmanned aerial, surface or sub-surface vehicles.’
LCS 27 is one of six ships in various stages of construction and test at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard, and will join a class of more than 30 ships when complete.
Forming part of the Reconciliation Bill, the funding will support multiple efforts involving autonomous capabilities, interceptors, missiles, rockets and torpedoes.
The delivery acceptance of the future USS Pierre marks the conclusion of the construction phase for the Independence-variant.
The new Barracuda version has been engineered to perform enhanced subsea and seabed warfare missions.
The nearly $25 billion investment will cover USCG procurement of cutters, aircraft, helicopters, training simulators and Polar capabilities over the next four years.
After commissioning, FRC Frederick Mann will operate in Alaska and perform multiple missions.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) created new units, including five Programme Executive Offices (PEOs), to facilitate and speed up the procurement of new capabilities.
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