Freedom variant LCS takes to water

MARINETTE, Wis., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy's seventh Littoral Combat Ship, the future USS Detroit, has been launched by an industry team led by Lockheed Martin.

The ship launched at the Marinette Marine Corporation shipyard into the Menominee River in Wisconsin is a single-hull Freedom variant and is scheduled for delivery to the Navy next year following completion of outfitting and testing.

"It is an honor to continue supporting the U.S. Navy with these capable and flexible warships," said Dale P. Bennett, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Training business.

"The Lockheed Martin-led team's LCS design is lethal, survivable, and affordable. These ships will help the Navy achieve its goal to increase forward presence, and can be upgraded or modified quickly to meet future missions."

Freedom variant Littoral Combat Ships are 378 feet in length, 57.4 feet in the beam, have a top speed of about 45 knots and a range of 3,500 nautical miles sailing at 18 knots. Two Freedom variants are already operational with the Navy and The Lockheed Martin team is building four others.