The future Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Billings (LCS-15) finished acceptance trials in Lake Michigan, the last major milestone before ship delivery, prime contractor Lockheed Martin [LMT] said Monday.
LCS-15 is the eighth Freedom-variant LCS built by Lockheed Martin and its shipbuilder partner Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin. The ship is expected to be delivered in 2019.
The acceptance trials involved a full-power run, maneuverability testing, and surface and air detect-to-engage demonstrations of the ship combat system. It all demonstrated major ship systems like aviation support, small boat launch handling and recovery, and machinery control and automation.
Joe DePietro, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager, noted LCS-15 is the third ship the company has taken to sea trials in 2018. He said, “the industry team has hit its stride in serial production, and we’re producing increasingly capable ships in quick succession.”
The Freedom-variant team is currently in full-rate production and working on seven ships in different stages of production and testing. Their most recently finished ship, the future USS Wichita (LCS-13), is scheduled for commissioning in Jacksonville, Fla., on Jan. 12, the future USS Indianapolis (LCS-17) is set for sea trials in 2019, and the future USS St. Louis (LCS-19) is scheduled for christening and launch on Dec. 15.
The Navy took delivery of LCS-11 and LCS-13 in August. The Wichita will will become the first East Coast Mine Warfare Division ship and is slated to get the Mine Countermeasure (MCM) Mission Package, with mission modules planned to be deployed on the ship starting in fiscal year 2019 (Defense Daily, Aug. 23).
Previously, the USS Sioux City (LCS-11) was commissioned in Annapolis, Md., on Nov. 17.