Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 25, the future USS Marinette, completed its next milestone when ship sponsor, the Honorable Jennifer Granholm christened the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine on the bow of LCS 25 in a ceremony at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. Prior to the christening, the Lockheed Martin-led team launched the ship into the water on Oct. 31, 2020. LCS 25 is slated to begin acceptance trials next year. Unique among combat ships, LCS is designed to complete close-to-shore missions and is a growing and relevant part of the U.S. Navy’s fleet.
It is flexible—with 40 percent of the hull easily reconfigurable, LCS can be modified to integrate capabilities including over-the-horizon missiles, advanced electronic warfare systems (SEWIP) and decoys (Nulka), and in future, vertical launching systems or laser weapon systems.It is fast—capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots, automated—with the most efficient staffing of any combat ship and lethal—standard equipped with Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) and a Mark 110 gun, capable of firing 220 rounds per minute. Lockheed Martin is in full-rate production and has delivered 11 ships to the U.S. Navy. There are five ships in various stages of production.
“Today’s christening of Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 25, the future USS Marinette, marks the next critical milestone in the life of this warship. It’s an honor to celebrate this moment with the many hardworking men and women who both built the Marinette and call this great city home. The Lockheed Martin team is proud of our continued partnership with the U.S. Navy to support enhanced warfighting capabilities to this highly capable class of Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships.” –Steve Allen, Lockheed Martin Vice President, Small Combatants and Ship Systems.
The Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship is a resilient, flexible warship, designed from the keel up to affordably take on new capabilities including advanced sensors, missiles and cutting-edge cyber systems. Its speed, strength and versatility make it a critical tool to help sailors achieve their missions. The christening celebrates a major milestone in the life of the future USS Marinette (LCS 25) and marks a significant event in the history of the nation’s 25th Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 25). The future USS Marinette will be the first commissioned U.S. Navy combatant ship to bear the name. The ship’s name honors the city’s significant contribution to Navy shipbuilding. Shipbuilding has been part of the fabric of the Marinette community since 1942. Since that time, more than 1,500 vessels have been produced in the city. Marinette is also home to the Freedom-Variant Littoral Combat Ship.
