Marinette Marine launches LCS 3

The Lockheed Martin-led industry team launched the third Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Fort Worth, at the Marinette Marine shipyard in Wisconsin on Saurday.

Just prior to the launch of the 389 ft ship into the Menominee River, sponsor Congresswoman Kay Granger of Texas, christened Fort Worth with the traditional smashing of a champagne bottle across the bow.

The U.S. Navy awarded the Lockheed Martin-led team the contract to construct Fort Worth in March 2009. The ship is now 80 percent complete and will continue to undergo outfitting and testing at Marinette Marine before delivery to the Navy in 2012.

“It is an incredibly rewarding experience to see Fort Worth launch into the water – on time and on budget,” said Orlando Carvalho, president of Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Sensors business. “The team’s strong performance and hard work in bringing Fort Worth to this point illustrates our ability to meet the Navy’s need for a class of affordable, multi-mission combatants.”

Prior to constructing Fort Worth, the Lockheed Martin-led team designed and constructed the first LCS, USS Freedom, which was deployed in February 2010, two years ahead of schedule. Additionally, this summer the ship participated in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2010, where it interacted with international Navies and successfully completed a series of operational exercises, including a live-fire exercise with the MK-110 57 mm gun, the launch of a Rolling Airframe Missile, and a maritime security exercise.

In addition to shipbuilder Marinette Marine Corporation, a Fincantieri company, the Lockheed Martin-led team for LCS 3 includes naval architect Gibbs & Cox as well as other domestic and international companies.

December 6, 2010