Third LCS on schedule for Navy

MARINETTE, Wis., June 16 (UPI) -- Construction of the third littoral combat ship for the U.S. Navy is 50 percent complete and on schedule for a 2012 delivery, Lockheed Martin announced.

U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin is leading a team to build the LCS 3, dubbed USS Fort Worth.

"We are on schedule and on cost under a fixed-price contract," said Joe North, Lockheed Martin LCS program manager.

Marinette Marine Corp. is leading the construction of the combat ship. The company built the first LCS, USS Freedom, which was commissioned in 2008.

Marinette Marine began $100 million expansion effort at its indoor ship construction facility in Wisconsin in March to support the LCS program.

The Fort Worth construction team has already installed the 16-cylinder diesel engine and two Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines on the third LCS.

Lockheed Martin said all of the major equipment for the Fort Worth has been installed and 100 percent of its modules are under construction.