Lockheed team launches LCS Little Rock

The Freedom-class industry team led by Lockheed Martin launched the ninth littoral combat ship (LCS), Little Rock (LCS 9), at the Marinette Marine shipyard on 18 July.

With the christening and launch complete, LCS Little Rock will continue outfitting operations and testing before being delivered to the US Navy later in 2015.

Little Rock is one of seven LCS being constructed at the Marinette Marine shipyard. Two Freedom-class LCS have been delivered so far: USS Freedom and USS Fort Worth. Milwaukee (LCS 5) is set to be delivered in the autumn of 2015, while Detroit (LCS 7) was launched in 2014. Sioux City (LCS 11), Billings (LCS 15), Indianapolis (LCS 17) and St. Louis (LCS 19) are in construction, while Wichita (LCS 13) completed its keel-laying in February 2015.

Joe North, vice president of littoral ships & systems, Lockheed Martin, said: 'This future USS Little Rock will use interchangeable mission modules that empower her to face a variety of high-priority missions, from anti-surface warfare to anti-submarine warfare to mine countermeasures.

'She is ideally suited to navigate the reefs and shallows in the Asia-Pacific, as so well demonstrated by USS Fort Worth on her current deployment.'