Navy Lockheed Martin-Led Team Launches U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship Future USS Marinette (LCS-25)

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Lockheed Martin-led industry team launched the U.S. Navy’s 13th Freedom class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Marinette (LCS-25), in a ceremony held at Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin on Oct. 31.

LCS 25 will be the first U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Marinette, and is named to recognize the town’s significant contributions to Navy shipbuilding. She will be the first commissioned ship, and second overall in naval service to be named after Marinette, Wisconsin, the other being Marinette YTB-791, a Natick-class large fleet tugboat.

Marinette Marine was awarded the contract to build the ship on 31 March 2016. The keel of the vessel was laid at the FMM shipyard on March 27, 2019.

The LCS is a high speed, agile, shallow draft, mission-focused surface combatant of the U.S. Navy designed for operations in the littoral environment, yet fully capable of open ocean operations. It is a modular, reconfigurable ship designed to meet validated fleet requirements for anti-surface warfare (ASuW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and mine countermeasures (MCM) missions.

The LCS class consists of two variants, the Freedom-variant, and the Independence-variant, designed and built by two industry teams. The Freedom-variant team is led by Lockheed Martin (for the odd-numbered hulls). The Independence-variant team is led by Austal USA (for LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls).

The Freedom-variant LCS ships are capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots and are automated with the most efficient staffing of any combat ship. They are equipped with Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) and a Mark 110 gun, capable of firing 220 rounds per minute, as standard and is flexible with 40 percent of the hull easily reconfigurable, integrating capabilities like the Longbow Hellfire Missiles, 30mm guns, and manned and unmanned vehicles targeted to meet future missions.

Additional Freedom-variant ships are under construction at the Marinette shipyard including Nantucket (LCS 27), Beloit (LCS 29) and Cleveland (LCS 31).


Lockheed Martin-led industry team launched the U.S. Navy’s 13th Freedom class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Marinette (LCS-25), in a ceremony held at Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin on Oct. 31, 2020.


Lockheed Martin-led industry team launched the U.S. Navy’s 13th Freedom class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Marinette (LCS-25), in a ceremony held at Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin on Oct. 31, 2020.