The future USS Billings completed acceptance trials in Lake Michigan and is now delivered to the U.S. Navy. Billings is the eighth Freedom-variant LCS designed, built and delivered by the Lockheed Martin-led industry team and will be commissioned later this year. LCS 15 will be homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, alongside USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), USS Detroit (LCS 7), USS Little Rock (LCS 9), USS Sioux City (LCS 11) and USS Wichita (LCS 13).
Joe DePietro, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Small Combatants and Ship Systems
“We are proud to support the U.S. Navy surface fleet with delivery of another highly lethal and agile littoral combat ship. The Lockheed Martin-led industry team has hit its production and efficiency stride, and we know LCS will fulfill critical missions around the world for many years to come.”
Unique among combat ships, LCS is designed to complete close-to-shore missions and is a growing and relevant part of the Navy’s fleet.
- It is fast — capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots.
- It is automated — with the most efficient staffing of any combat ship.
- It is lethal — standard equipped with Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) and a Mark 110 gun, capable of firing 220 rounds per minute.
- It is flexible — with 40 percent of the hull easily reconfigurable, integrating capabilities like the Longbow Hellfire Missiles, 30mm guns, and manned and unmanned vehicles targeted to meet today’s and tomorrow’s missions.
“Fincantieri Marinette Marine is focused on delivering capable and proven warship to the U.S. Navy,” said Jan Allman, president and CEO of Fincantieri Marinette Marine. “This milestone is a testament to our hot serial production line, and the skilled test and trials collaboration across the entire LCS Freedom team.”
Six ships are in various stages of production and test at FMM. The next ship in the class, the future USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) will complete trials and be delivered this year. In addition, the Lockheed Martin-led team will begin construction on the future USS Marinette (LCS 25) this spring.
The LCS is a highly maneuverable, lethal and adaptable ship, designed to support focused mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions. It is enabled with the COMBATSS-21 Combat Management System, built from the Aegis Common Source Library, which drives commonality among the fleet. The Freedom-variant LCS integrates new technology and capability to affordably support current and future mission capability from deep water to the littorals.
