First LCD laid down

The keel was laid down for the US Navy?s first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) at Marinette Marine, Marinette, Wis. The 116.3 metre warship, to be named USS Freedom (LCS 1), represents the cutting edge of a new Navy, and represents a revolution in design for the US Navy.

Freedom, the first of two dramatically different LCS sea frames being produced, will be optimized for littoral or coastal missions, focusing on high-speed maneuverability, agility and sprint speed. Designed to operate quickly in a shallow-water environment, the LCS is capable of speeds up to 45 knots and can operate in water less than 20 feet deep.

The LCS class will act as a platform for launch and recovery of manned and unmanned vehicles. Its modular design will support interchangeable mission packages, allowing the ship to be reconfigured for antisubmarine warfare, mine warfare or surface warfare missions on an as-needed basis. LCS will be able to swap out mission packages quayside in a matter of hours, adapting as the tactical situation demands. These ships will also feature advanced networking capability to share tactical information with other Navy aircraft, ships, submarines, and joint units.

In May 2004, the Department of the Navy awarded both Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics – Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, separate contract options for final system design with options for detail design and construction of up to two LCS ships. In December, the Navy awarded Lockheed Martin Corp., Maritime Systems & Sensors, Moorestown, N.J., a contract for detail design and construction of the first LCS. Lockheed Martin?s teammates include Gibbs & Cox, Arlington, Va.; Marinette Marine, Marinette, Wis.; and Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, La. Production at Marinette is expected to culminate in late 2006 when the ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy.