Future USS St Louis completes acceptance trials
The US Navy’s future USS St Louis has completed acceptance trials in Lake Michigan, Lockheed Martin announced on 16 December.
The vessel, Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 19, will now progress to final outfitting and fine-tuning before delivery, which is slated for early 2020.
The tenth Freedom-variant LCS will join the US Navy’s fleet to carry out a range of roles including anti-submarine, surface and mine countermeasure missions.
Joe DePietro, vice president and general manager, small combatants and ship systems, Lockheed Martin, said: ‘The LCS fleet is growing in numbers and capability, and LCS 19's completion of acceptance trials means the navy will shortly have ten Freedom-variant fast, focused-mission ships in the fleet.
'As each Freedom-variant hull deploys, we seek out and incorporate fleet feedback and lessons learned to roll in capabilities for new hulls. As a result, LCS 19 includes a solid-state radar, upgraded communications suite, increased self-defence capabilities and topside optimisation, among other updates.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Swedish navy moves to final phase of Blekinge-class sub production with new Saab order]()
Swedish navy moves to final phase of Blekinge-class sub production with new Saab order
Saab Kockums was initially awarded the contract to build two A26 submarines for the Royal Swedish Navy in 2015, but the programme has faced delays and escalating costs.
-
![Germany goes for more US equipment for F127 frigates with SPY-6 radar choice]()
Germany goes for more US equipment for F127 frigates with SPY-6 radar choice
If the foreign military sale request is approved, Germany would be the first country outside the US to acquire the technology, which is currently used extensively by the US Navy.
-
![US continues to review AUKUS submarine deal as HII ticks off new Virginia-class sea trials]()
US continues to review AUKUS submarine deal as HII ticks off new Virginia-class sea trials
The initial sea trials for Virginia-class SSN 798 conducted by Newport News Shipbuilding division and the US Navy marked an “important step”, but the ongoing AUKUS review casts a shadow over what the progress means for the partner nations.
-
![US Navy seeks AI software suppliers to bolster air and missile defence]()
US Navy seeks AI software suppliers to bolster air and missile defence
The US Navy is conducting market research to find AI software products for the Collaborative Integrated Air and Missile Defence Planning Programme.
-
![Turkey’s Goksur naval missile completes first live-fire intercept]()
Turkey’s Goksur naval missile completes first live-fire intercept
The Goksur will be available in a range of configurations and could be integrated into Turkey’s nascent Steel Dome which is designed to provide multi-layered protection against a range of aerial targets from mortars to aircraft.
