The Lockheed Martin– [LMT] led industry team launched the United States’ seventh Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Detroit, Oct. 18 into the Menominee River at the Marinette Marine Corp. (MMC) shipyard, according to a Lockheed Martin statement.
The ship’s sponsor, Barbara Levin, christened Detroit with the traditional smashing of a champagne bottle across the ship’s bow just before the launch. Following christening and launch, Detroit will continue to undergo outfitting and testing before delivery to the Navy in 2015.
The Navy awarded the contract to construct Detroit in March 2011. The ship is one of five LCS currently under construction at Marinette Marine. The Lockheed Martin-led industry team is building the Freedom-variant ships and has already delivered two ships to the Navy. USS Freedom (LCS-1) completed a successful deployment to southeast Asia in 2013. USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) will deploy to southeast Asia in 2014.
Milwaukee (LCS-5) will be delivered to the Navy in 2015. Little Rock (LCS-9), Sioux City (LCS-11) and Wichita (LCS-13) are under construction. Billings (LCS-15) will begin construction this year. Earlier this year, the Navy funded Indianapolis (LCS-17) and LCS-19, which is yet to be named.
Austal USA is developing the trimaran version of LCS.