US Navy funds one LCS from Lockheed-led team

The US Navy has awarded a contract modification for a fully-funded 2015 Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) from the Lockheed Martin-led industry team, as announced by the company on 1 April.

The contract modification includes $362 million in full funding for an LCS and $79 million in advanced procurement funding for a second ship. The rest of the second ship's funding will be awarded by 31 December 2015. The advanced procurement funding maintains the cost and schedule of the final block buy option. The award also includes a priced option for another LCS for fiscal 2016.

The modification covers the construction of LCS 21 and LCS 23, the 11th and 12th Freedom-class ships and is part of a 2010 contract. The first ship in this contract is the Milwaukee (LCS 5), and it is scheduled to be delivered to the navy in the summer of 2015.

Detroit (LCS 7) was launched in 2014 and Little Rock (LCS 9) and Sioux City (LCS 11) are in construction. LCS 9 is set to be christened and launched in the summer. Wichita (LCS 13) had its keel laid in February 2015. Billings (LCS 15), Indianapolis (LCS 17) and the yet-to-be-named LCS 19 are in the construction phase.

Joe North, vice president of littoral ship systems, Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training, said: 'We are proud to continue this partnership with the navy in building the advanced Freedom-variant LCS, and we thank the navy for maintaining the cost and schedule for the block buy.

'Thousands of people across the country contribute to this important programme and will continue to do so as we transition to the new frigate upgrade in the coming years.'