Middle East proves fertile market for corvettes
The Middle East has proved a significant customer for European shipbuilders such as Naval Group, Navantia and Fincantieri.
USN to christen latest LCS Santa Barbara
Independence variant LCS USS Tulsa (left), USS Manchester (centre) and USS Independence (right) sail in formation in the eastern Pacific. (Photo: USN)
The future USS Santa Barbara is the service’s 16 Independence-variant LCS and the 32nd vessel of the two-design class.
On 16 October, the USN will christen its newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Santa Barbara.
The christening ceremony will be held in Mobile, Alabama.
The LCS is designed to operate in near-shore environments supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence.
The USN’s LCS fleet comprises two ship designs: the Lockheed Martin Freedom and Austal USA Independence variants.
The first Independence-variant LCS, USS Independence, was commissioned in 2010. The ship was decommissioned earlier this year, having been in service for a little over a decade.
Austal USA is currently building two further LCS, the future USS Augusta and Kingsville, and another the future USS Pierre, is on order.
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