LCS Construction Commences

U.S. Navy officials and members of the Lockheed Martin LCS team observe the first steel cut that marks the construction start of the lead LCS at Marinette Marine in Marinette, WI. LCS will provide the U.S. Navy with transformational capabilities in the littorals with an agile, highly-maneuverable monohull design.

The Lockheed Martin team cut steel for the nation’s first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) early this month, marking the start of fabrication at Marinette Marine in Marinette. The team will deliver the first LCS to the U.S. Navy in late 2006. The team was authorized to move to the construction phase after passing a Production Readiness Review on Jan. 14, demonstrating the team’s readiness to begin construction, based on design detail, personnel and material. During the review, the team also demonstrated an integrated program management approach to ensure a seamless transition from design to construction for on-time and on-budget delivery.

The Lockheed Martin team design, a proven semi-planing steel monohull, provides outstanding agility and high-speed maneuverability with known seakeeping characteristics to support launch and recovery operations, mission execution and optimum crew comfort. The Lockheed Martin-led team includes naval architect Gibbs & Cox, ship builders Marinette Marine, a subsidiary of The Manitowoc Company, Inc., and Bollinger Shipyards, as well as best-of-industry domestic and international teammates to provide a low-risk, affordable LCS solution.