Busy year for LCS commissionings

It’s going to be a busy year for Littoral Combat Ships. Six LCS are slated for commissioning by the end of 2019, a program official said May 8 at the Navy League’s annual Sea-Air-Space symposium in Maryland. Three of the commissionings have already occurred within the first five months of the calendar year - LCSs 13, 16 and 18. In the coming months, LCSs 15, 17 and 20 will be commissioned, said Neal White, deputy program manager for LCS. In addition, there will be three keel-layings for LCSs 25, 27 and 28. The Navy is winding down the program and plans to build a total of 33 ships before transitioning to building the next-generation frigate (FFG(X)). The Navy chose five shipbuilders to submit designs for a fleet of about 20 guided-missile frigates. The first ship would be purchased as early as 2020, meaning that the current LCS design may be modified to fit the new platform. Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., builds the Independence variant (even-numbered hulls). Lockheed Martin builds the Freedom variant of the ships (odd-numbered hulls) in Wisconsin. (Source: Seapower Magazine 05/09/19)