Little Rock completes acceptance trials

Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine have successfully completed acceptance trials on the US Navy’s future Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) USS Little Rock.

USS Little Rock is the fifth Freedom-variant LCS built by Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine.

The five-day trials, conducted in port and at sea by the US Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey, signify the last major milestone before the ship's delivery.

During the trials, the navy conducted comprehensive tests of the LCS to demonstrate the performance of the propulsion plant, ship handling and auxiliary systems.

The team is currently in full-rate production of the Freedom-variant of the LCS and has delivered four ships to the US Navy to date. The future USS Little Rock is one of eight ships in various stages of construction at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, with one more in long-lead production.

Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine are now preparing Little Rock for delivery in the coming weeks. The ship will be commissioned later this year in Buffalo, New York.