US Navy orders LCS 29
The Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) team has received a contract from the US Navy to build an additional Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 29), Lockheed Martin announced on 27 September.
LCS 29 is the 15th Freedom-variant LCS ordered by the US Navy to date. It will be built in Marinette, Wisconsin, at FMM, with construction to begin in first half of 2019.
The Freedom-class LCS is highly manoeuvrable, lethal and adaptable vessel designed to support missions including mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare.
The Lockheed Martin and FMM team is in full-rate production of the Freedom-variant and has delivered seven ships to the US Navy to date, including two in 2018 – the future USS Sioux City and the future USS Wichita. There are currently seven ships in various stages of construction at FMM.
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Navy’s $275 billion BBGN plan hinges on shipyard transformation
The US Navy’s planned nuclear-powered warship carries a US$275 billion price tag, but the greater story lies in the industrial overhaul needed to build it, from AI-enabled design to digital twins and modular construction.
-
RTX confirms US Marine Corps and US Navy acquire Hadalus UUV
RTX told Shephard that the Hadalus UUV has been procured by the US Marine Corps and the Office of Naval Research for operational experimentation as the company prepares additional demonstrations with the US Navy, NATO and AUKUS partners.
-
Europe’s naval contractors benefit from growing refit and upgrade demand
Rheinmetall’s order to modernise the German Navy frigate Bayern points to a wider European shift towards extending warship service life as new-build programmes face delay.
-
The UK joins the movement towards joint procurement
The UK will spend an estimated US$3.89 billion over the next decade in joint naval programmes, a lot of which will be in cooperation with Norway.