Navy accepts new Littoral Combat Ship

MARINETTE, Wis., Aug. 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has accepted delivery of a seventh Littoral Combat Ship -- the future USS Detroit, built by a Lockheed Martin team.

The ship is scheduled to be commissioned into service in late October and is the fourth Freedom variant LCS from the company.

"Team Freedom is proud to deliver another capable LCS to the Navy," Joe North, Lockheed Martin's vice president and general manager of Littoral Ships and Systems said. "Once commissioned, the USS Detroit will represent the interests of the United States where and when needed, with a level of force that will deter and defeat threats."

Six Freedom Variant ships are currently under construction by the Lockheed Martin-led industry team at Fincantieri Marinette Marine. Long-lead material procurement is taking place for three more.

Lockheed Martin said the ship's modular design and plug-and-play architecture provide the Navy with increased operational capacity and capability at an affordable cost. It features a steel monohull and has 40 percent reconfigurable shipboard space for weapon modules and various upgrades associated with the Freedom-variant frigate.

The future USS Detroit underway during Acceptance Trials on July 13, 2016. Photo by Lockheed Martin

"Today marks a significant milestone in the life of the future USS Detroit, an exceptional ship which will conduct anti-submarine, surface and mine counter-measures operations around the globe with ever-increasing mission package capability," U.S. Navy LCS Program Manager Capt. Tom Anderson said last week at a delivery ceremony. "I look forward to seeing Detroit join her sister ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) this fall."