Jump to content

Freedom-class littoral combat ship

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Freedom-class frigate)
For the RCI cruise ship class, see Freedom-class cruise ship.

Freedom class
Freedom, showing a camouflage scheme, on sea trials in February 2013
Class overview
BuildersMarinette Marine
Operators United States Navy
Preceded byN/A
Succeeded byConstellation class[2][3][4][5]
Cost$362 million[1]
Built2005–present
In commission2008–present
Planned16
Building1
Completed16
Active10
Retired5
General characteristics
TypeLittoral combat ship
Displacement3,500 metric tons (3,900 short tons) (full load)[6]
Length378 ft (115 m)
Beam57.4 ft (17.5 m)
Draft12.8 ft (3.9 m)
Installed powerElectrical: 4 Isotta Fraschini V1708 diesel engines, Hitzinger generator units, 800 kW each
Propulsion
Speed47 knots (87 km/h; 54 mph) (sea state 3)[9]
Range3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[10]
Endurance21 days (336 hours)
Boats & landing
craft carried		11 m (36 ft) RHIB, 12 m (39 ft) high-speed boats
Complement50 core crew, 65 with mission crew (Blue and Gold crews).[11]
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried

The Freedom class is one of two classes of the littoral combat ship program, built for the United States Navy.[20]

The Freedom class was proposed by a consortium formed by Lockheed Martin as "prime contractor" and by Fincantieri (project) through the subsidiary Marinette Marine (manufacturer) as a contender for a fleet of small, multipurpose warships to operate in the littoral zone. Two ships were approved, to compete with the Independence-class design offered by General Dynamics and Austal for a construction contract of up to fifty-five vessels.

Despite plans in 2004 to only accept two each of the Freedom and Independence variants, in December 2010 the U.S. Navy announced plans to order up to ten additional ships of each class, for a total of twelve ships per class.[21]

In early September 2016, the U.S. Navy announced that the first four vessels of the LCS program, the Freedom class ships Freedom and Fort Worth and two Independence class, would be used as test ships and would not be deployed with the fleet.[22][23] In February 2020, the Navy announced that it plans to retire those same four ships.[24] On 20 June 2020, the US Navy announced that all four would be taken out of commission in March 2021 and placed in inactive reserve.[25][26]

Planning and construction

[edit]
Freedom in February 2013 showing her large helideck and a RAM launcher on the hangar

Planning for a class of small, multipurpose warships to operate in the littoral zone began in the early 2000s. The construction contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin's LCS team (Lockheed Martin, Gibbs & Cox, Marinette Marine, Bollinger Shipyards) in May 2004 for two vessels. These would then be compared to two ships built by Austal USA to determine which design would be taken up by the Navy for a production run of up to fifty-five ships.

On 15 April 2003, the Lockheed Martin LCS team unveiled their Sea Blade concept based on the hull form of the motor yacht Destriero.[27][28]

The keel of the lead ship Freedom was laid down in June 2005, by Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin.[29] She was christened in September 2006,[30][31] delivered to the Navy in September 2008, and commissioned that November.[32] During INSURV trials, 2,600 discrepancies were discovered, including 21 considered high-priority.[33] Not all of these were rectified before the ship entered service, as moving the ship away from Milwaukee before the winter freeze was considered a higher priority.[34]

Cost overruns during Freedom's construction combined with projected future overruns led the government to issue a "stop-work" in January 2007 and ultimately led to the cancellation of construction of LCS-3 (the second Freedom class ship) on 13 April 2007.[35] This ship was later reordered.

After much inconsistency on how testing and orders were to proceed, in November 2010, the Navy asked that Congress approve 10 each of the Freedom and Independence variants.[36][37][38]

Design

[edit]
An MH-60 Seahawk helicopter approaching Freedom in 2009

The ship is a semiplaning steel monohull with an aluminum superstructure. It is 377 ft (115 m) in length, displaces 3,500 metric tons (3,400 long tons), and can achieve 47 kn (87 km/h; 54 mph). The design incorporates a large, reconfigurable seaframe to allow rapidly interchangeable mission modules, a flight deck with integrated helicopter launch, recovery and handling system, and the capability to launch and recover boats (manned and unmanned) from both the stern and side.

The ship uses a Trigon traversing system to move helicopters in and out of the hangar. The ship has two ways to launch and recover various mission packages: a stern ramp and a starboard side door near the waterline. The mission module bay has a three-axis crane for positioning modules or cargo.[39]

The most serious problems with the Freedom class have been with the electrical systems.[40][clarification needed]

The fore deck has a modular weapons zone which can be used for a 57 mm gun turret or missile launcher. A Rolling Airframe Missile launcher is mounted above the hangar for short-range defense against aircraft and cruise missiles, and .50-caliber gun mounts are provided topside. The Fleet-class unmanned surface vessel is designed for operations from Freedom-variant ships.[41]

The core crew is 40 sailors, usually joined by a mission package crew and an aviation detachment for a total crew around 75. Automation allows a reduced crew, which greatly reduces operating costs, but workload can still be "gruelling".[42] During testing of the class lead, two ship's companies rotated on four-month assignments.[43]

Four 750-kilowatt Fincantieri Isotta Fraschini diesel generators provide 3 megawatts of electrical power to power the ship systems.[44]

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that fuel would account for only "8 percent to 18 percent" of the total lifecycle costs for the Freedom class.[45] Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama called the report into question and suggested that the Independence class, built in his state, would be more fuel efficient and that less frequent refuelings would affect military operations beyond the cost of fuel.[46]

In 2012, a Navy cybersecurity team found major deficiencies in Lockheed's Total Ship Computing Environment, which controls the entire ship to reduce crewing requirements.[47][48]

Survivability has been a criticism of both the Freedom and Independence classes, rated at level one by the Navy, compared to level two for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates (FFG) they were designed to replace. Lockheed claims the Freedom class is actually more survivable than the FFGs because Navy requirements for various survivability levels have changed since the FFGs were assessed, and because the Freedom class hulls are made of high-strength, low-weight steel that was not previously available.[49]

Milwaukee was the first Freedom-class ship to be fitted with cavitation performance waterjets (Rolls-Royce Axial-Flow Waterjet Mk-1[50]). The jets create partial vacuums in liquid using an improved impeller blade design. Cavitation jets do not increase the ship's top speed, but deliver 10% greater fuel efficiency with less noise and vibration, reduced lifecycle costs, improved maintainability, increased availability, and potentially improved efficiency at lower speeds. In 2014, the Navy announced plans to add these waterjets to every Freedom variant that is produced.[51] The mixed-flow design was changed to an axial design to push water parallel to the shaft of the impeller.[52]

The first ships of both LCS classes were delivered before the designs were mature so that improvements could be built into future ships. Many improvements to the Freedom class came from the problems experienced by Freedom (LCS-1) on the ship's first deployment, including power outages, corroded equipment, and a faulty air compressor. To prevent water from being taken into the anchor windlass room, the anchor winch, hydraulic unit, and mooring capstan were replaced with a single electric chain winch on the main deck, and the existing towing chain was replaced with a lighter chain.[52]

Corrosion resistance was also improved by the impressed-current cathodic protection system being modified by adding protections to the water-jet inlet tunnel. Adjustments to the Freedom class, starting with LCS-3, saw the stern transom lengthened and buoyancy tanks added to the stern to increase weight service and enhance stability. Plans were adjusted to see a significantly less complex gas-turbine electric start system added on LCS-5 to reduce costs and lower ship weight.[52]

Starting with LCS-17, the Freedom-class ships will be equipped with the TRS-4D naval radar. The TRS-4D is an AESA radar built by Airbus Defence and Space that is similar to the one on German F125-class frigates, the difference being the Freedom class will have a rotating version instead of a fixed panel, the first AESA rotating radar aboard a U.S. Navy ship. It is a three-dimensional, multifunction naval radar combining mechanical and electronic azimuth scanning that delivers increased sensitivity to detect smaller targets with greater accuracy and faster track generation.[53]

Engine maintenance incidents

[edit]

As of November 2016, three of four active Freedom-class ships had suffered maintenance incidents involving the engines and/or associated propulsion hardware. Milwaukee broke down in the Atlantic Ocean in December 2015 and had to be towed back to port. Metallic debris was found in the filter system. The cause was traced to a clutch between the gas turbine and diesel engine systems, which failed to disengage as designed while switching from one propulsion system to the other.[54]

Fort Worth suffered a similar breakdown in the Pacific Ocean in January 2016. Improper procedures used aboard ship caused a set of combining gears – hardware used to transfer power to the ship's water propulsion system – to be operated with insufficient oil. And in July 2016, Freedom suffered a seawater leak into one of her two main diesel propulsion systems and had to return to San Diego for seawater decontamination.[54]

In October 2020 Detroit had to limp back to port in Mayport, Florida from a deployment to South America after suffering another breakage of the combining gear, a system described as "generally unreliable", yet one that needs to be engaged for reaching the speeds over 12 knots (22 km/h).[55] In February 2021, a problem was discovered in the propulsion system of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, the newest Freedom-class ship, keeping her from going into service.[56]

The Freedom class has experienced severe issues with its combining gear, an imperfect solution engineered to meet the speed requirement. After Little Rock suffered a breakdown of its combining gear early in 2020, Detroit was forced to cut short from a deployment to Latin America and it had to be towed to port when its power failed on the way back.[57]

Transmission design defect

[edit]

In January 2021, the Navy halted deliveries of Freedom-class ships due to a design flaw of the ship's transmission. The Navy, Marinette and the firm that designed the transmission, Renk AG, were working on an upgrade to address the issue. The Navy announced that, once the upgrade is complete, new deliveries will resume. The Navy predicted it would take months to implement the upgrade to ships already in active service.[57]

Ships

[edit]

Ship orders and naming history

[edit]

The Navy originally ordered two Freedom-class LCSs, the lead ship Freedom (LCS-1) and Fort Worth (LCS-3), announced in March 2009 by then-Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter; the Freedom class is assigned odd hull numbers, with the Independence class using even numbers. On 29 December 2010, the Navy announced that it would be placing a block-buy order of up to 10 additional Freedom-class ships, for a total of 12 ships in the class.[21]

On 31 March 2016, the Navy exercised an option under the block-buy contract for one additional Freedom-class vessel. LCS-25 would be the 11th vessel built under the block-buy contract and the 13th overall (Freedom and Fort Worth were built prior to the block-buy order).[58]

On 10 March 2014, the Navy awarded contract options to fund construction of LCS-17 and LCS-19, the seventh and eighth ships in a 10-ship contract.[59] On 1 April 2015, the Navy awarded LCS-21 to Lockheed Martin.[60] On 1 April 2016, the Navy awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin for LCS-25, the 13th of the Freedom-class ships.[58] On 8 October 2017, Marinette Marine announced the order to build LCS-27, at a cost under the congressional cost cap of $584 million.[61]

On 13 February 2018, Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer announced the name of LCS-27 as Nantucket.[62]

On 18 September 2018, the Navy announced that two additional Independence-class ships and one Freedom-class ship had been ordered.[63]

On 15 January 2019, the Navy exercised an option in their contract with Lockheed Martin to purchase a single additional Freedom-class ship, which will be numbered LCS-31 and since named Cleveland.[64]

Ships in class

[edit]
Ship Hull Number Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Status
Freedom LCS-1 2 June 2005 23 September 2006 8 November 2008 29 September 2021 Decommissioned[65][66]
Fort Worth LCS-3 11 July 2009 4 December 2010 22 September 2012 Active in service
Milwaukee LCS-5 27 October 2011 18 December 2013 21 November 2015 8 September 2023 Decommissioned
Detroit LCS-7 11 August 2012 18 October 2014 22 October 2016 29 September 2023 Decommissioned, on hold for potential foreign military sale[67]
Little Rock LCS-9 27 June 2013 18 July 2015 16 December 2017 29 September 2023 Decommissioned, on hold for potential foreign military sale[68]
Sioux City LCS-11 19 February 2014 30 January 2016 17 November 2018 14 August 2023 Decommissioned[69]
Wichita LCS-13 9 February 2015 17 September 2016 12 January 2019 Active in service
Billings LCS-15 2 November 2015 1 July 2017 3 August 2019 Active in service
Indianapolis LCS-17 18 July 2016 18 April 2018 26 October 2019 Active in service
St. Louis LCS-19 17 May 2017 15 December 2018 8 August 2020 Active in service
Minneapolis-Saint Paul LCS-21 22 February 2018 15 June 2019 21 May 2022[70] Active in service
Cooperstown LCS-23 14 August 2018 19 January 2020 6 May 2023[71] Active in service
Marinette LCS-25 27 March 2019 31 October 2020 16 September 2023 Active in service
Nantucket LCS-27 9 October 2019 7 August 2021 16 November 2024 Active in service
Beloit LCS-29 22 July 2020 7 May 2022 23 November 2024[72] Active in Service
Cleveland LCS-31 16 June 2021 15 April 2023 Fitting out
  • Note: The Navy has announced that Cleveland LCS-31 will be the last Freedom-class LCS to be built despite placing orders for Independence-class variants numbered LCS-32, LCS-34, LCS-36, and LCS-38.[73]

Plan to retire LCS hulls

[edit]

During planning for the FY21 Budget proposal, Navy recommended the scrapping of the original four hulls (two Freedom class, two Independence class) in 2021, some 10 years ahead of prior planning.[74] This was explained by former Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Mike Gilday, during the WEST Conference on 2 March 2020, when he said:

We made a decision a number of years ago. … In order to give capability to LCS 5 and beyond, particularly the block buys we did in 2015, we decided we needed to do much more testing and use those first four hulls, so that we could better understand what were the issues with respect to hull maintenance and engineering that kept plaguing us and kept us from getting those ships to sea. … We used those first hulls to test and we put no money into upgrading them like the rest of the fleet. … Those first four ships are not bringing lethality to the fight. … I just didn't see the return on investment.[75]

There was also a comment that it would cost another $2 billion to get the first four hulls prepped for sea duty.[75]

In May 2021, the Navy confirmed it would decommission the first two littoral combat ships in 2021.[76] On 29 July 2021, the Navy decommissioned Independence.[77] Freedom was decommissioned on 29 September 2021.[65][78] Both ships will join the reserve fleet.

In June 2021, the Navy released an abbreviated long-range shipbuilding report to Congress, which included ships planned to be decommissioned during fiscal year 2022. This included three Freedom class ships, Fort Worth, Detroit, and Little Rock, along with the Independence class Coronado. All four ships would be placed Out of Commission in Reserve and retained as reactivation candidates.[79] Congress denied the Navy from retiring the three Freedom class ships in Fiscal Year 2022.[80]

Freedom-class based variants

[edit]

Small Surface Combatant variant

[edit]

Lockheed submitted a variety of upgrade options for Freedom-class ships to the Small Surface Combatant Task Force, aimed at transforming the LCS from "niche" platforms into ships with more protection and firepower beyond Flight 0 to survive against more advanced military adversaries. With 180 metric tons of space available for mission packages, room is available for added capabilities. Anti-aircraft warfare was suggested with the installation of a SPY-1F air defense radar and permanently installed vertical launch systems (VLS).[81]

Current 118-m-length versions could house four to 32 VLS cells, each holding four RIM-162D Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles or one SM-2 missile. For surface warfare, the 57mm gun could be replaced with a larger weapon up to the Mk 45 5-inch; integration of the AGM-114L Hellfire missile for defense against fast-attack craft was also factored in.[81]

Lockheed's approach was to integrate mission systems into the hull so that the ships could perform anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-aircraft duties without needing to swap out mission packages. Weight would be increased from 3,400 to 3,600 tons and the hull could be stretched an additional 7–10 m (23–33 ft). In addition to adding vertical launch tubes and a sonar, the main gun would be integrated with the stronger and more sophisticated radar.[82]

The Navy's recommendation to base the Small Surface Combatant on upgraded versions of both Freedom and Independence LCSs was accepted in December 2014. Although Lockheed submitted improvements including vertical launch systems, 76 mm guns, and advanced combat systems and sensors, the Navy opted to keep the 57mm gun, not add a vertical launch system, and chose to add an upgraded 3-D radar. Other changes included installation of an unspecified over-the-horizon missile, Mark 38 25mm guns, a torpedo countermeasures system, a multifunction towed array system, installation of the SeaRAM launcher, an upgraded countermeasures decoy system, an upgraded electronic warfare system, armor added to vital spaces, and improved signature management.[83]

The SSC will focus in SUW and ASW with these additions, as well as retaining all other features of their mission packages. The SSC is not required to perform MCM, which will continue to be handled by the LCS. The vessels will retain a degree of modularity to concentrate on one mission set and will still have mission bays, although they may be reduced. SSC vessels are planned to begin procurement by 2019, and whether the enhancements can be added to existing LCS hulls is being investigated.[83]

Multi-mission combat ship variant

[edit]

In 2012, Lockheed renamed the Surface Combat Ship (SCS) to match GD's Multi-Mission Combatant term and revealed that the full capabilities, such as Aegis, would only be available on a stretched 3,500-ton hull.[84]

Lockheed has also been working on a trimmed-down version of the Freedom-class LCS to offer on the international market for smaller patrol vessels.[85] This Multi-Mission Combat Ship adds in phased-array radar and a vertical launch system on a smaller hull with a smaller crew size, at the cost of removing the high-speed gas turbines and one-third of the mission module area.[86]

A much larger, more capable frigate design was submitted to meet the requirements of the U.S. Navy's proposed FFG(X) program. Although based on the Freedom hull form, it has to be bigger and more heavily armed to meet more demanding mission requirements. In February 2018, this design was one of the five finalists selected to be considered for the 20-ship contract that will be awarded in 2020.[87]

In May 2019, Lockheed Martin announced that it won't submit a bid to compete in the design of the Navy's FFG(X), as it elected to focus on its involvement developing the frigate's Aegis-derived COMBATSS-21 combat management system and other systems, such as Mk-41 VLS, processing of ASW area, advanced electronic warfare and platform integration, etc.[87] On 30 April 2020, Fincantieri Marinette Marine's FREMM multipurpose frigate won the contest.

Multi-Mission Surface Combatant

[edit]

Derived from previous Surface Combat Ship, MMSC was designed to confront modern maritime and economic security threats at both littoral and open ocean waters. It was funded by the need of Royal Saudi Navy (RSN). MMSC features an open-architecture design with semi-planning mono-hull made of steel and aluminum superstructure. It has a length of 118.6 m (389 ft 1 in), a beam of 17.6 m (57 ft 9 in), a draft of 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in) and 3,600 t (3,500 long tons) of displacement. The large deck supports an MH-60R Seahawk and the hangar can accommodate a helicopter plus two vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicles (VTUAVs).[88][89][90]

Rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) will be carried amidship to support naval missions in high sea state and the articulating stern ramp is designed to enable fast and safe deployment of boats. Its anti-surface warfare armament includes two quad launchers for RGM-84 Harpoon Block II or similar anti-ship missiles, one MK-15 Mod 31 SeaRAM with 11-cell RIM 116C Block II Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAMs) CIWS, a 57 mm Mk110 or 76 mm Mk75 OTO Melara deck gun and medium-caliber rapid-fire guns, such as 50-caliber machine guns, M621 20 mm NARWHAL remote-controlled guns or similar.[88][89][90]

For ASW missions, the helicopter and Nixie AN/SLQ-25 torpedo defense system, Mk-32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes. For AAW, the ship can be outfitted with two eight-cell Mk-41 VLS with a mix of RIM-162 ESSM medium and SM-2 long range missiles, as a new 150 kW Laser weapon that is being testing on existing LCS. MMSC are fitted with Aegis-derived COMBATSS-21 combat management system (CMS), which is designed to integrate the ship's sensors, communications and armament to provide improved mission flexibility and self defense.[88][89][90]

Sensors include TRS-4D GaN AESA (rotating of fixed) surveillance and target acquisition radar, a modern fire control radar (for rotated), a multi-function phased array radar, an identificator friend or foe (IFF), Automatic Launch of Expendables (ALEX) chaff and decoy launching system, AN/SLQ-61 Lightweight Tow (LWT) Torpedo Defense Mission Module (TDMM), Nulka active missile decoy, towed array and a compact low-frequency active and passive variable depth sonar. Propulsion is a CODAG (combined diesel and gas) system with speed of over 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) and a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[88][89][90]

MMSC was proposed as the next multi-mission frigate for the Hellenic Navy, which would acquire four new frigates in the following years. Greece required four new MMSC frigates, an upgrade of its current four MEKO-200HN frigates with common systems, participation contracts for the future Constellation-class frigate, plus two ships of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer or Ticonderoga-class cruiser for an urgent intermediate solution.[91] This proposal was rejected in favour of the new FDI-class frigate.[92]

Foreign sales

[edit]

Saudi Arabia

[edit]

Lockheed Martin has offered an Aegis Combat System-equipped variant for national missile defense radar picket use to a number of Persian Gulf states.[93][94]

The Surface Combat Ship was offered to Saudi Arabia as part of a 2011 arms deal.[95][96] The total cost for the eight ships was reported to be as much as $5 billion.[97] The Saudi Naval Expansion Program II calls for some $20 billion for new warships, which can include up to 12 Freedom-class ships; the Saudis have not looked to purchase Austal's Independence-class ship. The Saudis, as well as other potential foreign buyers, want permanent weapons capabilities built into the ship rather than interchangeable mission packages.[98]

Another potential ship under evaluation was the Arleigh Burke class destroyer. The Freedom class would be outfitted with vertical missile launchers and the SPY-1F radar, a smaller and lighter but shorter range version of Arleigh Burke's SPY-1D. A decision between the ships would be based on the desire for a large-hulled ship with a large missile defense system or a larger number of small-hulled multimission ships.[98]

In October 2015, Saudi Arabia requested the sale of four Freedom-class ships to update its eastern fleet in a potential $11.25 billion deal via FMS. A letter of offer and acceptance was signed by the US Navy and Saudi Arabia in May 2017. In March 2018, Lockheed Martin was awarded a $481 million contract by the Naval Sea Systems Command to support the construction of MMSCs and the steel-cutting ceremony took place in October 2019.[93][94]

In December 2019, Lockheed Martin with Fincantieri Marinette Marine was awarded a $1.96 billion contract to provide detailed design and construction and the contract-related work is expected to be completed by June 2026. The Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) variant does away with the LCS modular mission package ability and the forward two mission bays, but keeps the aft mission bay with a stern ramp. The requirement for an Aegis combat system was dropped for cost reasons and the ships will instead feature the TRS-4D AESA air search radar.[93][94]

Unlike the Flight 0 Freedom, the MMSC features two 8-cell Mk 41 VLS that can carry 16 SM-2 or 64 ESSMs in total, as well as an OTO Melara 76 mm main gun, Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles, torpedoes and the SeaRAM. It will also have an MH-60R helicopter, ASW sonar suites, and the Link 16 data-link for interoperability with regional U.S. forces.[93][94][99]

Greece

[edit]

In January 2024, it was reported that the Hellenic Navy was interested in purchasing four ships and upgrading them to their standards.[100]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Barrett, Rick (2 April 2015). "Navy orders another combat ship from Marinette Marine". Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  2. ^ "The Navy Is Looking for a New Frigate to Replace the Troubled Littoral Combat Ship". 11 July 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Frigate competition wide open: US Navy specs reveal major design shift". Defense News.[dead link‍]
  4. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (10 July 2017). "In a Blow to LCS, the US Navy Finally Admits it Needs a Real Frigate". Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  5. ^ Wetzel, Gary (12 July 2017). "The Littoral Combat Ship Is A Disaster And This Is The Solution". Foxtrot Alpha. Jalopnik. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Littoral Combat Ship Class – LCS". America's Navy. US Navy. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  7. ^ "LCS". Fincantieri. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  8. ^ "Colt-Pielstcik PA6B-STC". Fairbanks Morse. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  9. ^ Ewing, Phillip (19 May 2009). "Refueling tops list of LCS crew challenges". NavyTimes. Retrieved 14 March 2015. (subscription required)
  10. ^ "LCS Littoral Combat Ship". Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  11. ^ Cavas, Christopher P. (6 January 2014). "Next LCS Deployment To Last 16 Months". defensenews.com. Gannett Government Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  12. ^ a b c "Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) High-Speed Surface Ship". www.naval-technology.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  13. ^ "TRS-4D radar finishes factory acceptance test". www.shephardmedia.com. The Shephard News. 14 November 2016. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  14. ^ "AN/SQR-20". deagel.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  15. ^ "Littoral Combat Ship at the Joint Meeting INTERNATIONAL HYDROFOIL SOCIETY SNAME Panel SD-5" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2012.
  16. ^ "Littoral Combat Ship". Navsea – NSWC Dahlgren Division. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  17. ^ "Q & A with the U.S. Navy on Lockheed Martin Hellfire missiles for Littoral Combat Ships". navyrecognition.com. 17 July 2014. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  18. ^ Littoral Combat Ship Will Field Laser Weapon as Part of Lockheed Martin, Navy Test. USNI News. 13 January 2020.
  19. ^ Freedburg Jr., Sydney J. (17 December 2014). "Fire Scout Grows Up: Drone Getting Radar, Rockets, 2016 IOC". Breakingdefense.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  20. ^ "US Navy Fact File: LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP CLASS – LCS". United States Department of the Navy. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  21. ^ a b Special from Navy Office of Information (29 December 2010). "Littoral Combat Ship Contract Award Announced" (Press release). United States Navy. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  22. ^ "U.S. Navy announces Littoral Combat Ship program overhaul". Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  23. ^ Brad Lendon and Ryan Browne (12 September 2016). "US Navy overhauls troubled littoral combat ship program". CNN. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  24. ^ Kyle Mizokami (12 February 2020). "The Navy Wants to Retire a Ship That's Only Six Years Old". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  25. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (1 July 2020). "Navy Will Mothball Its First Four Littoral Combat Ships In Nine Months If Congress Lets It". thedrive.com. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  26. ^ Larter, David B. (1 July 2020). "US Navy's first 4 littoral combat ships to leave the fleet in 9 months". DefenseNews.com. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  27. ^ Ross, Ken (15 April 2003). "Lockheed Martin LCS Team Introduces Sea Blade Concept for Navy's LCS Program". Lockheed Martin. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011.
  28. ^ ""LCS Brochure"" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2010.
  29. ^ Onley, Dawn. "Lockheed Martin to build advanced Navy ship". Government Computer News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2006.
  30. ^ Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs (24 September 2006). "First Littoral Combat Ship Christened" (Press release). Navy News Service. NNS060924-01. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  31. ^ "Lockheed Martin Team Delivers Nation's First Littoral Combat Ship to U.S. Navy". Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  32. ^ Chief Mass Communication Specialist Rhonda Burke (8 November 2008). "USS Freedom Commissioned in Milwaukee" (Press release). Navy News Service. NNS081108-20. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  33. ^ Ewing, Philip (9 December 2009). "Navy: InSurv recommends accepting LCS 2". Military Times. Retrieved 14 March 2015. (subscription required)
  34. ^ "Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs" (PDF). United States Government Accountability Office. March 2009. p. 106. GAO-09-326SP. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 December 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  35. ^ "Cost Growth Leads To Stop-Work On Team Lockheed LCS-3 Construction". Defense Industry Daily. 16 April 2007. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  36. ^ Sessions, Jeff (3 November 2010). "Sessions comments today regarding the Navy's proposal to purchase additional Littoral Combat Ship". Office of Jeff Sessions. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  37. ^ "US Navy said to buy LCS warships from both bidders". Reuters. 3 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  38. ^ Cavas, Christopher P. (4 November 2010). "Navy asks Congress to buy both LCS designs". NavyTimes. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  39. ^ "Nation's First Littoral Combat Ship Demonstrates Key Mission Package Launch And Recovery System". Lockheed Martin. 11 October 2007. Archived from the original on 20 August 2009.
  40. ^ Freedberg Jr., Sydney J. (17 January 2014). "Littoral Combat Ship Cut Plan Reopens Navy Riff: Build 'Em Fast Or Rugged". Breakingdefense.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  41. ^ Sobie, Brendan (24 August 2010). "AUVSI: Making a splash". Flightglobal. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  42. ^ Jean, Grace V. (September 2010). "Duty Aboard the Littoral Combat Ship: 'Grueling but Manageable'". National Defense. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  43. ^ Jones, Meg (5 November 2008). "Navy's Vessel Of Versatility". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  44. ^ Howard, Courtenay E. (1 April 2008). "USS Freedom demonstrates its power plant can handle vessel's sensors and electronics". Military & Aerospace Electronics. Retrieved 14 March 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  45. ^ "Life-Cycle Costs of Selected Navy Ships". Congressional Budget Office. 28 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  46. ^ "CBO Report Calls into Question Navy's LCS Evaluation". Bignews.biz. 29 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  47. ^ Capaccio, Tony (23 April 2013). "Littoral Combat Ship Network Can Be Hacked, Navy Finds". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  48. ^ Lawlor, Maryann (December 2005). "Littoral Combat Ship Launches Change". SIGNAL Online. AFCEA International. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  49. ^ Freedberg Jr., Sydney J. (10 June 2014). "Lockheed Says It Can 'Easily' Improve LCS". Breakingdefense.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  50. ^ Szondy, David (6 February 2013). "New water jets to give U.S. Navy littoral combat ships extra punch". Newatlas.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  51. ^ Osborn, Kris (15 May 2014). "LCS5 Gets New Waterjets". Defensetech.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  52. ^ a b c Osborn, Kris (27 June 2014). "Navy Engineers LCS Changes". DoDBuzz.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  53. ^ Successful Factory Acceptance for US Navy Freedom class LCS' TRS-4D AESA Radar Archived 24 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine – Navyrecognition.com, 2 December 2015
  54. ^ a b Brad Lendon and Zachary Cohen (30 August 2016). "Third breakdown in year for $360M US Navy warships". CNN. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  55. ^ David B. Larter (29 October 2020). "Another littoral combat ship breaks down on deployment". DefenseNews. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  56. ^ The Associated Press (3 February 2021). "Navy postpones USS Minneapolis-St. Paul commissioning after design defect discovered". Defense News.
  57. ^ a b Larter, David (19 January 2021). "US Navy halts deliveries of Freedom-class littoral combat ship". Defense News. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  58. ^ a b "Navy awards contract for LCS-25". Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  59. ^ "On Your Mark… Get Set… Go! LCS 17, 19 at the Starting Line". Lockheed Martin. 10 March 2014. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  60. ^ Jean, Grace (1 April 2015). "USN awards FY 2015 LCS contracts". IHS Jane's Navy International. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  61. ^ "Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine Awarded Contract to Build LCS 27" (PDF) (Press release). Marinette Marine. 9 October 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  62. ^ "Secretary of the Navy Names Two Littoral Combat Ships". navy.mil. 13 February 2018. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  63. ^ "Navy Awards Three Littoral Combat Ships". navy.mil. 18 September 2018. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  64. ^ "Navy Statement on Littoral Combat Ship" (Press release). NAVSEA. 15 January 2019. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  65. ^ a b Burgess, Richard R. (17 February 2021). "Navy Details Revised 2021 Ship Decommissioning Schedule". Seapower. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  66. ^ "USS Freedom (LCS 1) Decommissions". Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. San Diego, CA. 29 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  67. ^ "Navy to Decommission Littoral Combat Ships USS Little Rock, USS Detroit This Week". usni.org. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  68. ^ "USS Little Rock LCS #9, which cost $350 million, is decommissioned by U.S. Navy after 6 years of service". wgrz.com. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  69. ^ Breen, Matt (20 July 2023). "USS Sioux City will be decommissioned". KTIV.com.
  70. ^ "USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21) Commissions" (Press release). United States Navy. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  71. ^ "Navy commissions USS Cooperstown; honors war veteran players". Associated Press (AP). 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  72. ^ https://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2024/11/23/commissioning-ceremony-of-the-uss-beloit/76527692007/
  73. ^ "US Navy's Final Freedom-Variant LCS Launched By Fincantieri". Naval News. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  74. ^ US Navy proposes decommissioning first 4 LCS more than a decade early, David B. Larter, Navy Times, 2019-12-24
  75. ^ a b CNO sounds off ‘with all due respect’ about how the Navy trains and deploys crews, Geoff Ziezulewicz, Navy Times, 2020-03-03
  76. ^ Shelbourne, Mallory (17 May 2021). "Navy to Decommission Littoral Combat Ships USS Freedom, USS Independence Later This Year". news.usni.org. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  77. ^ "USS Independence (LCS 2) Decommissions After Distinguished Service". United States Navy. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  78. ^ "USS Freedom (LCS 1) Decommissions". Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. San Diego, CA. 29 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  79. ^ LaGrone, Sam (17 June 2021). "Pentagon Reissues FY 22 Shipbuilding Totals to Congress In Lieu of 30-Year Plan". news.usni.org. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  80. ^ LaGrone, Sam (10 March 2022). "Last Minute FY 22 $728.5B Defense Bill Funds 13 Navy Ships, 12 F/A-18s; Saves 3 LCS From Decommissioning". news.usni.org. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  81. ^ a b LeGrone, Sam (10 June 2014). "Lockheed Outlines Post Littoral Combat Ship Pitch". U.S. Naval Institute. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  82. ^ Osborn, Kris (3 September 2014). "Lockheed Offers Navy New LCS Variant". Defensetech.org. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  83. ^ a b Cavas, Christopher P. (11 December 2014). "Split Decision on New US Navy Ship". Defensenews.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  84. ^ Blenkey, Nick (10 December 2012). "Lockheed Martin Offers LCS-derived Multi-Mission Combatant". Marine Log. Archived from the original on 10 December 2012.
  85. ^ Wall, Robert (26 October 2012). "BAE and Thales plot course for smaller warships to fight pirates". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  86. ^ Cavas, Christopher P. (17 February 2013). "China Shipbuilder Calls for Greater Cooperation with U.S. Firms". DefenseNews. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  87. ^ a b "Lockheed Drops Freedom-class Out of FFG(X) Contest". USNI News. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  88. ^ a b c d "Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) – Naval Technology". www.naval-technology.com. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  89. ^ a b c d "Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC)". Lockheed Martin. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  90. ^ a b c d "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) Ships | Defense Security Cooperation Agency". www.dsca.mil. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  91. ^ "Hellenic Navy proposes purchase of US frigates, Vassilis Nedos | Kathimerini". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  92. ^ "Greece buys 3 French frigates Belh@rra". en.protothema.gr. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  93. ^ a b c d LeGrone, Sam (20 October 2015). "Saudi Arabia Set to Buy Four Lockheed Martin Freedom-Class Variants in $11.25B Deal". U.S. Naval Institute. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  94. ^ a b c d Cavas, Christopher P. (20 October 2015). "US OKs Potential $11.25B Saudi Deal for LCS Variant". Defensenews.com. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  95. ^ Wolf, Jim (8 April 2011). "Saudis ask U.S. for price quotes for warships". Reuters. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  96. ^ "Surface Combat Ship Designed as a Multi-mission Ship | Lockheed Martin". 22 October 2011. Archived from the original on 22 October 2011.
  97. ^ "Lockheed proposes $5bn Aegis ships sale to Saudi Arabia". Arabian Business.com. Bloomberg News. 26 May 2011. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  98. ^ a b Shalal-Esa, Andrea (21 November 2013). "BIW could get $20 billion contract as Saudi Arabia looks to expand Navy". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  99. ^ Saudis Said To Zero In on Lockheed LCS – Defensenews.com, 15 September 2015
  100. ^ "Greece closer than ever to procure LCS from the U.S." 28 January 2024.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Freedom-class_littoral_combat_ship&oldid=1259345103"