Article Posted on : - Aug 23, 2011

An unrelated photo of Littoral Combat Ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) of the US Navy. Photo: US Navy.

MARINETTE, WISCONSIN (BNS): A Lockheed Martin-led industry team has begun construction on US Navy's fifth Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) at Marinette Marine.

The industry team recently received approval for full production of LCS 5 after finishing a successful review with the US Navy that demonstrated the team’s ability to begin construction based on production readiness criteria including design completion, staffing and material readiness, according to a news release by Lockheed Martin.

LCS 5 is the first of 10 Freedom-variant ships awarded to Lockheed Martin by the Navy in December 2010. Marinette Marine Corporation, a Fincantieri company, will construct the 10 ships in Marinette, Wisconsin, and naval architect Gibbs & Coxwill provide engineering and design support.

The team plans to deliver LCS 5, the future USS Milwaukee, to the US Navy in 2014.

The Lockheed Martin industry team has earlier designed and constructed the nation’s first LCS, USS Freedom. Since its commissioning in 2008, USS Freedom has sailed more than 55,000 nautical miles and demonstrated its capabilities.