MARINETTE, Wis., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- The USS Fort Worth, the U.S. Navy's third Littoral Combat Ship, has been launched into a Wisconsin river by a Lockheed Martin-led industry team.
The ship is about 80 percent complete and will be delivered to the Navy in 2012.
"It is an incredibly rewarding experience to see Fort Worth launch into the water -- on time and on budget," said Orlando Carvalho, president of Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Sensors business. "The team's strong performance and hard work in bringing Fort Worth to this point illustrates our ability to meet the Navy's need for a class of affordable, multi-mission combatants."
The LCS, which is 398 feet in length, is intended for use in coastal waters and can launch both aircraft and water-borne vessels.
Prior to constructing Fort Worth, the Lockheed Martin-led team designed and constructed USS Freedom (LCS 1), which was deployed in February. USS Freedom was christened in 2006 and delivered to the Navy in 2008.
The USS Fort Worth was built at the shipyard of Marinette Marine Corp., a Fincantieri company.
Lockheed Martin said the vessel will continue to undergo outfitting and testing at the shipyard along the Menominee River.
