The future USS Sioux City (LCS-11) Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship finished its Navy acceptance trials last week, prime integrator Lockheed Martin [LMT] said on Thursday.
The trials were conducted from May 20-24 on Lake Michigan and covered surface and air detect-to-engage demonstrations of its combat system, aviation support, small boat launch handling and recovery, and ride control.
Freedom-variant LCSs are built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin. LCS-11 is the sixth Freedom-variant LCS and is planned to be delivered to the Navy later this summer.
“LCS 11’s completion of Acceptance Trials means this ship is one step closer to joining the fleet and conducting critical maritime operations for the Navy. This ship is agile, powerful and lethal, and the industry team and I are looking forward to her delivery, commissioning and deployment,” Joe DePietro, Lockheed Martin, vice president for small combatants and ship systems, said in a statement.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine is building and testing seven other ships plus one more in long-lead production.
The next Freedom-variant LCS will be the future USS Wichita (LCS-13), which is set for acceptance trials in the early summer and delivery later this year.