VIDEO: Navy takes delivery of LCS 15

FEBRUARY 6, 2019 — Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) delivered another Littoral Combat Ship, the future USS Billings (LCS 15) to the U.S. Navy in a ceremony held February 1 at. FMM’s Marinette, WI, shipyard.

Billings is the eighth Freedom-variant LCS designed, built and delivered by the Lockheed Martin-led industry team and will be commissioned later this year. LCS 15 will be homeported at Naval Station Mayport, FL, alongside USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), USS Detroit (LCS 7), USS Little Rock (LCS 9), USS Sioux City (LCS 11) and USS Wichita (LCS 13).

“Today marks a significant milestone in the life of the future USS Billings,” said LCS program manager Capt. Mike Taylor. “I look forward to celebrating the commissioning of this fine ship alongside the crew later this year where she will play an essential role in the new fleet of warships that will carry out our nation’s future maritime strategy.”

“We are proud to support the U.S. Navy surface fleet with delivery of another highly lethal and agile littoral combat ship,” said Joe DePietro, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Small Combatants and Ship Systems. “The Lockheed Martin-led industry team has hit its production and efficiency stride, and we know LCS will fulfill critical missions around the world for many years to come.”

The LCS class consists of two variants, the Freedom variant and the Independence variant, designed and built by two industry teams. The Lockheed Martin-led team builds the odd-numbered hulls. The Independence variant team is led by Austal USA, Mobile, Alabama, (for LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls).

LCS is now the second-largest surface ship class in the U.S. Navy. In 2018, five LCSs were delivered to the fleet, and three are scheduled for delivery in 2019.