US Navy receives final Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship
The delivery acceptance of the future USS Pierre marks the conclusion of the construction phase for the Independence-variant.
ESSM launch in April 2021 from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford. (Photo: USN/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zachary Melvin)
Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Raytheon a $55.12 million contract modification for engineering and technical services in support of the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) and NATO Seasparrow Missile programmes, the DoD revealed on 30 December.
This contract combines purchases for the US (99%) plus Japan and UAE (1%) under the FMS programme.
Work will be completed by December 2022 in Tucson, Arizona (82%); Portsmouth, Rhode Island (17%); Andover, Massachusetts (less than 1%); San Jose, California (less than 1%); Aranjuez, Spain (less than 1%); Brisbane, Australia (less than 1%); and Koropi Attica, Greece (less than 1%).
ESSM Block 2 employs an active- and semi-active guidance system to meet current and anticipated future threats.
The NATO SeaSparrow Project is an international consortium of 12 nations consisting of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the US.
The member nations are partners in the engineering, development, production and sustainment of the missiles and associated equipment.
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.
The US Navy does not have a precise date for the award of the procurement contract for the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer despite having the funds to advance with the programme in FY2025.