The keel for USS Cincinnati (LCS-20) was laid in April 2017 and the ship was launched in May 2018 and commissioned in October 2019.The keel for USS Kansas City (LCS-22) was laid in November 2017, while the keel for USS Oakland (LCS-24) and USS Mobile (LCS-26) was laid in July and December 2018 respectively. Following its delivery in August 2018, the ship was commissioned in March 2019.
The keel was laid for LCS-9 in June 2013 and the ship was launched in July 2015 and commissioned in December 2017. This is a surprising development as all four LCS are fairly new vessels, having been commissioned between October 2008 and April 2014. The direct-attack missile has a dual-mode uncooled infrared and semi-active laser seeker, multimode warhead and range of up to 40km.
The Lockheed Martin-led team was awarded a contract to build LCS 31 in January 2019.The two designs are quite different, although both satisfy the top-level performance requirements and technical requirements of the LCS programme. The semi-submersible, the AN / WLD-1 with an ASW mission system, tows a remote-towed active source (RTAS), a multiband transducer, with a remotely towed array multi-function sonar.The ASW module includes systems to be deployed from the MH-60R helicopter (mk54 torpedoes, sonobuoys, Raytheon AN / AQS-22 airborne low-frequency sonar) and unmanned surface vehicles, USVs (dipping sonar, multi-static active sonar and ULITE ultra-lightweight towed array).General Dynamics Robotics was awarded a contract for four USVs for the ASW module in October 2006.The 11m Fleet-class USV weighs 7.7t, has a payload of 2,270kg, a speed of 35k and is capable of operating continuously for more than 24 hours.The SUW module includes a General Dynamics mk46 30mm cannon (also used in the rapid airborne mine clearance system and the US Marine Corps expeditionary fighting vehicle), which fires at up to 200 rounds a minute, and a version of the US Army’s non-line of sight – precision-attack munition missile system.The NLOS launch system and precision attack missile are being jointly developed by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
General Dynamics was awarded the contract to build LCS-4 in December 2006. Northrop Grumman has been appointed as mission package integrator.Mission packages will be mine warfare (MIW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (SUW).The mission modules may be integrated into standard-sized containers that can be installed in the ship and other systems will be transferred onto the ship on pallets. In July 2008, Israel requested the foreign military sale (FMS) of up to four vessels of the LCS-1 variant.USS Freedom (LCS-1) is the first in the Lockheed Martin Freedom-class of littoral combat ships.Lockheed Martin proposed the Freedom-class of littoral combat ship based on a semi-planing mono-hull design. If you continue using our website, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website.USS Freedom (LCS-1) is the first in the Lockheed Martin Freedom-class of littoral combat ships.USS Independence (LCS-2), the first of the General Dynamics Independence class littoral combat ships.USS Freedom (LCS-1), left, and USS Independence (LCS-2) littoral combat ships.Rear view of USS Independence (LCS-2) showing the trimaran hull of the General Dynamics littoral combat ship design.The littoral combat ship (LCS) is a new family of surface ships for the US Navy. Each was tasked with carrying out system design and options for the detailed design and construction of two flight 0 or first-generation LCS ships.The number of LCS ships is not finalised but speculated to be up to 60, within a total US naval fleet of 375 ships.Austal secured a A$1.6bn ($1.16bn) contract to build LCS ships 32 and 34 in September 2018, followed by a contract for two additional ships, LCS 36 and 38, in December 2018.
The consortium began construction on the ship in Marinette, in October 2019.In September 2018, the US Navy awarded a contract to the consortium to build PCU Beloit (LCS-29). USS Billings (LCS-15) was laid in November 2015 and was launched in July 2017. In March 2009, LCS-3 was announced as USS Fort Worth. The countermeasures suite will include ES 3601 tactical radar Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems provides the integrated combat management system (ICMS), BAE Systems Electronic Systems provides the radio communications system and CAE Marine Systems supplies the automated ship control system.The main mast carries the Link 16, Link 1, CEC, and the Saab Microwave Systems (formerly Ericsson) Sea Giraffe radar.Lockheed Martin’s advanced semi-planing sea frame is based on technologies introduced by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri on the 1,000t Destrier commercial vessel, which holds the transatlantic speed record, and the 3,000t Jupiter-class.The ship has a steel hull with an aluminium superstructure and will be powered by two Rolls-Royce MT30 36MW gas turbines and two Fairbanks Morse Colt-Pielstick 16PA6B STC diesel engines. The shaping of the hull in both design strategies provides signature reduction, while both ships continue to evolve with changes in design proposals.In April 2005, the US Navy awarded a foreign military sales contract to Lockheed Martin to conduct a nine-month feasibility study to examine possible modifications to the Lockheed Martin LCS design to meet the requirements of the Israeli Navy. USS Detroit was launched in October 2014 and commissioned in October 2016.The contract for two additional ships, USS Little Rock (LCS-9) and USS Sioux City (LCS-11), was awarded in March 2012. The two designs use very different approaches for incorporating reconfigurable internal volume.The design approach for the second-generation LCS, flight 1, ship acquisition is flexible and will take into consideration the experience gained in the flight 0 designs. To date, five ships are under construction.
The LCS is a fast, highly manoeuvrable, networked surface combat ship, which is a specialised variant of the family of US future surface combat ships known as DD(X). The MH-60R is armed with guns and Hellfire missiles.Both General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin vessels are armed with BAE Systems Land and Armaments (formerly United Defense) mk110 57mm naval gun system.