Construction begins on the future USS Nantucket

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.