By Geoff Fein

One month after a Navy inspection team recommended the service go forward with delivery of Lockheed Martin‘s [LMT] Freedom (LCS-1), the Navy yesterday was handed the “keys” to its first Littoral Combat Ship ((LCS).

Now the first LCS crew will move aboard Freedom and prepare the ship for commissioning on Nov. 8 at Wisconsin-based Marinette Marine [MTW] shipyard.

The second ship of the class, General Dynamics‘ [GD] Independence (LCS-2), will be christened next month at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., according to the Navy.

In August, the Navy Board of Inspection (InSurv) found Freedom to be capable, well built, and an inspection ready ship, the Navy said at an Aug. 27 briefing to reporters (Defense Daily, Aug. 28).

InSurv recommended Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead authorize delivery of the ship following correction or waiver of sighted material deficiencies, the Navy said.

Because the InSurv inspection took place on Lake Michigan, a number of systems could not be tested, including weapon and radar systems. Those tests will be conducted in early ’09 during a planned follow-on trial in the open ocean, the Navy said.

“This is a truly exciting day for the Navy. Today marks a critical milestone in fulfilling the need and realizing the vision we began just a few years ago,” Capt. James Murdoch, the LCS program manager, said during yesterday’s delivery ceremony. “Despite our challenges, the Navy and industry have continued to press on to build and deliver the first ship of a unique class, a ship class that will give our Nation asymmetric advantages against maritime threats.”

LCS-1 was built by a Lockheed Martin-led team that included Marinette Marine, naval architects Gibbs & Cox, DRS Technologies [DRS], Rolls-Royce, Fincantieri, and Bollinger Shipyards.