The newest warship of the United States Navy, the Freedom and Independence variant of the Littoral Combat Ship, is a swift, agile, mission-focused platform designed for operation in near-shore environments while also being capable of open-ocean operations. Its primary objective is to overcome asymmetric “anti-access” threats, including fast surface vessels, quiet diesel submarines, and mines.
Two industry teams conceptualized and constructed the Freedom and Independence variants that comprise the LCS class. Lockheed Martin directs the Freedom variant crew (for odd-numbered hulls, such as LCS 1). Austal USA (for vessels that follow LCS 2 and LCS 2) and General Dynamics (for LCS 2 and LCS 4) are spearheading the Independence variant team.\
The LCS seaframes will be equipped with mission modules, which are reconfigurable payloads consisting of mission systems and support equipment. These modules can be rapidly replaced. When combined with aviation assets and crew detachments, these modules form comprehensive mission packages that facilitate the deployment of sensors, manned and unmanned vehicles, and countersubmarine and surface warfare operations.
Commencing in February 2002, the LCS program signifies a substantial time reduction in the processes of ship acquisition, design, and construction when compared to every preceding ship class. Built in the shipyard of the Marinette Marine Corporation in Marinette, Wisconsin, by Lockheed Martin. The Navy received USS Freedom (LCS 1) on September 18, 2008. On December 18, 2009, the USS Independence (LCS 2) was delivered to the Navy after being built at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, by General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works. General Dynamics was tasked with the construction and delivery of LCS 4, the future USS Coronado, which was delivered on September 27, 2013. Lockheed Martin was responsible for the construction and delivery of LCS 3 (USS Fort Worth, which was commissioned in September 2012).
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By downselecting to a single design in 2010, the Navy’s LCS acquisition strategy generated a highly effective competition and an industry response that resulted in substantial cost reductions for the LCS program. A result of these competitive bids and the Navy’s desire to increase ship procurement rates to support operational requirements, a fixed-price, ten-ship block purchase for a total of twenty ships from fiscal years 2010 to 2015 was awarded to both bidders.
Lockheed Martin and Austal USA were awarded contracts on December 29, 2010, for the construction of a maximum of ten ships each, commencing with LCS 5 and LCS 6, during the fiscal year 2010-2015.
The Navy elected to deploy USS Freedom (LCS 1) almost two years early with the purpose of igniting operational concerns, gathering data in practical operational situations, and providing input for the overarching LCS fleet integration strategy. The vessel was assigned to the Fourth Fleet in the area of responsibility of U.S. Southern Command on February 16, 2010. Freedom effectively executed four drug seizures during this deployment, resulting in the confiscation of over five tons of cocaine, the apprehension of nine alleged drug smugglers, and the disablement of two “go-fast” drug vessels. Ahead of schedule, the USS Freedom also engaged in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.
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The USS Freedom commenced its inaugural LCS overseas deployment on March 1, 2013, traversing the Pacific Ocean en route to Singapore for an eight-month period of operation in Southeast Asia. Freedom, by way of the first of numerous planned rotational deployments of the LCS platform to the Western Pacific, is collaborating with regional allies and partners to conduct maritime security operations. The Navy will have the opportunity to showcase the operational capabilities of Freedom while also assessing crew rotation and maintenance strategies for the complete LCS class during this deployment.
On January 10, 2010, following her commissioning in Mobile, Alabama, the USS Independence proceeded to her homeport in San Diego. LCS 3 was commissioned by the Navy in Galveston, Texas, on September 22, 2012. Subsequently, it was assigned to homeport San Diego, where it joined sister ships USS Freedom and USS Independence. The Post Delivery Tests and Trials being conducted by LCS 2 and LCS 3 are both expected to reach their conclusion in 2014. The Navy received LCS 4, which will become USS Coronado, on September 27, 2013. It is scheduled to commission in San Diego in April of 2014.
Lockheed Martin has contracted Milwaukee (LCS 5), Detroit (LCS 7), Little Rock (LCS 9), and Sioux City (LCS 11) to be constructed at the Marinette Marine Corp. shipyard, while Austal USA has contracted Jackson (LCS 6), Montgomery (LCS 8), Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), and Omaha (LCS 12) to be constructed at the Austal USA shipyard.
Wichita (LCS 13) and Billings (LCS 15) are currently in the pre-production phase at Marinette Marine Corp and are under contract with Lockheed Martin, whereas Tulsa (LCS 16) and Manchester (LCS 14) are under contract with Austal USA and are also in the pre-production phase.