USN accepts Freedom-variant LCS as combining gear fix found
The Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) USS Freedom. (Photo: USN)
The fix comes after the USN halted deliveries of Lockheed Martin’s Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship due to a class-wide flaw in the design.
On November 18, the USN accepted delivery of Freedom-variant LCS the future USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul after ‘rigorous testing’ of a modification to the variant’s combining gear.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul is the first Freedom-variant LCS to receive the fix, which will eventually be rolled out to all ships of the variant.
Shephard Defence Insight notes the variant suffered from a material defect with its combining gear, which transmits power generated by the ship’s engines to its waterjet propulsion system.
In a statement, Lockheed Martin told Shephard: ‘Lockheed Martin is proud of its longstanding partnership with the USN and continues to
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