Landing of Gas Turbine Engines is Latest Milestone for Third Littoral Combat Ship

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Landing of Gas Turbine Engines is Latest Milestone for Nation’s Third Littoral Combat Ship
UNITED STATES - 17 SEPTEMBER 2009

MARINETTE, WI, September 17th, 2009 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-led industry team completed another key milestone in constructing the nation’s third Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) with the landing of the vessel’s two main propulsion gas turbines. More than 50 percent of the ship’s modules are under construction at the Marinette Marine shipyard. LCS 3, named Fort Worth, is scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2012.

Designed to operate in coastal waters, the LCS provides the Navy with a fast, agile shallow-draft warship that maximizes mission flexibility. The vessel is a highly automated and networked surface combatant which can accommodate mission packages that provide the ship with the ability to execute focused missions such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, as well as other potential missions.

Fort Worth’s gas turbine engines, part of an innovative combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion plant with steerable water jets, are a critical part of the Lockheed Martin team’s proven LCS propulsion system. The same system has successfully powered USS Freedom (LCS 1) since that ship’s November 2008 commissioning. Two Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines – the largest gas turbines installed on any Navy ship class – will allow Fort Worth to sustain sprint speeds of well over 40 knots, as demonstrated with USS Freedom. The propulsion system also has two fixed and two steerable Rolls-Royce water jets which enable superior maneuverability for mission execution.

“The success that Freedom achieved in its acceptance trials proves the soundness of the logistical, technological and manufacturing approach that the team is using to build LCS,” said Dan Schultz, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Defense Technologies business. “We’re using the lessons learned from LCS 1 to build LCS 3 even more efficiently and cost effectively.”

In March 2009, the Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a fixed price incentive fee contract to construct Fort Worth. In July, the ship’s sponsor, Rep. Kay Granger (R-12-Texas) joined the Lockheed Martin team members and U.S. Navy representatives for its keel laying ceremony.

Lockheed Martin’s LCS team delivered the first-of-class USS Freedom to the fleet in only six years from its initial concept, half the time of traditional shipbuilding programs. Team members include naval architect Gibbs & Cox, ship builders Marinette Marine Corporation, a Fincantieri company, and Bollinger Shipyards, as well as domestic and international teammates.


Source: Lockheed Martin

 

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Lockheed Martin Team Reaches 50 Percent Completion in Construction of Nation’s Third Littoral Combat Ship
UNITED STATES - 15 JUNE 2010

MARINETTE, Wis., June 15th, 2010 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-led industry team recently accomplished a key milestone by reaching the 50-percent completion mark in the construction of the nation’s third Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). LCS 3, named Fort Worth, is on track for delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2012.

Fort Worth is being built by Marinette Marine Corporation and is scheduled to be launched later this year. All of the ship’s major equipment has been installed and 100 percent of its modules are under construction.

“Lockheed Martin and its teammates have demonstrated strong performance in constructing LCS 3,” said Joe North, Lockheed Martin LCS program manager. “We are on schedule and on cost under a fixed-price contract. This performance proves our ability to deliver a low-risk solution that will meet the Navy’s need for a class of affordable and survivable warships.”

Marinette Marine constructed and launched the nation’s first LCS, USS Freedom. USS Freedom’s capabilities have been demonstrated since its commissioning in 2008. The ship has been operational for 18 months and successfully completed its first deployment in April. Throughout the deployment, the crew completed four drug interdictions, in which more than five tons of cocaine were seized in the U.S. Southern and U.S. Pacific Command areas of responsibility.

In addition to Marinette Marine Corporation, a Fincantieri company, the Lockheed Martin-led team for LCS 3 includes naval architect Gibbs & Cox as well as best-of-industry domestic and international companies. In late 2009 and early 2010, the team installed Fort Worth’s main propulsion equipment, including the 16-cylinder diesel engines, produced by Fairbanks-Morse, as well as two Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines.


Source: Lockheed Martin

 

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EADS Defence & Security Delivers Naval Radar to Lockheed Martin for U.S. Littoral Combat Ship Program
2 AUGUST 2010

EADS Defence & Security has delivered the second TRS-3D naval radar to Lockheed Martin, a prime contractor for the U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship program. The radar is due to be integrated on the third of the new Littoral Combat Ships (LCS 3), Fort Worth.

The first radar has been in successful operation for a year-and-a-half onboard the first LCS, USS Freedom, where it played a key role in the ship's first deployment. Throughout USS Freedom’s deployment the ship and crew conducted a series of drug interdictions in which more than five tons of cocaine was seized.

“Preserving maritime security, particularly of coastal areas, demands highly capable sensors to ensure situational awareness at any time,” explains Bernd Wenzler, CEO Defence Electronics, an integrated activity of EADS Defence & Security. “Our TRS-3D radar has proven in service that it is the right answer to these complex demands.”

The TRS-3D is a three-dimensional multimode naval radar for surveillance, self-defense, gunfire support, and helicopter control. It is used for automatically locating and tracking all types of air and sea targets. Due to the latest signal processing technologies, the TRS-3D is particularly suited for the early detection of small, fast moving objects, such as speed boats.

Source: EADS Defence & Security