BURNS HARBOR, Ind.,
Oct. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/
-- The U.S. Navy commissioned Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 17,
USS Indianapolis – the nation's ninth Freedom-variant LCS – in
Burns Harbor, Indiana. This
milestone places the ship, built by the Lockheed Martin- (NYSE:
LMT) led team into active service.
"Indianapolis' speed,
flexibility and lethality bring a unique set of capabilities to the
fleet," said Joe DePietro, vice
president and general manager of Small Combatants and Ship Systems
at Lockheed Martin. "She is equipped and ready for today's threats
and can easily integrate new capabilities for tomorrow's threats.
Our team is confident Indianapolis will be what the Navy needs when
the fleet needs it."
Unique among combat ships, the focused-mission LCS is designed
to support mine countermeasures, anti-submarine and surface warfare
missions and is easily adapted to serve future and evolving
missions. The Freedom-variant LCS is:
- Flexible — Forty percent of the hull is easily
reconfigurable, able to integrate Longbow Hellfire Missiles, 30 mm
guns, and manned and unmanned vehicles designed to meet today's and
tomorrow's missions.
- Lethal — LCS is standard equipped with Rolling Airframe
Missiles (RAM) and a Mark 110 gun, capable of firing 220 rounds per
minute.
- Fast — LCS is capable of speeds in excess of 40
knots.
- Automated — LCS has the most efficient staffing of any
combat ship.
"The crew gives the ship its own personality and warfighting
spirit. The men and women of USS Indianapolis exemplify patriotism,
grit, and what this great country of ours stand for," said LCS 17's
Commanding Officer, Commander Colin
Kane. "I am extremely proud to have all of [the USS
Indianapolis crew] as shipmates."
There are seven ships in various stages of production and test
at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin, where the Freedom-variant LCS is
built. The next Freedom-variant in the class is LCS 19, the future
USS St, Louis, which is on track to begin sea trials later this
year.
"On behalf of the proud 2,000 men and women who transform flat
steel into a fast, agile surface combatant," said Jan Allman, CEO of Fincantieri Marinette Marine,
"we are honored to support the U.S. Navy, and we congratulate the
outstanding crew of the USS Indianapolis."
Photos are available here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/143371902@N04/albums/72157711510852298
For more information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/lcs.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin
Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs
approximately 105,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged
in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and
services.
About Fincantieri Marinette Marine
Fincantieri is the
leading western shipbuilder with a rich history dating back more
than 230 years, and a track record of building more than 7,000
ships. Fincantieri Marine Group is the American subsidiary of
Fincantieri, and operates three Great Lakes Shipyards: Fincantieri
Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, and Fincantieri ACE
Marine. Fincantieri Marine Group's more than 2,100 steelworkers,
craftsman, engineers and technicians in the United States specialize in the design,
construction and maintenance of merchant ships and government
vessels, including for the United States Navy and Coast Guard.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin