Lockheed Martin Team Begins Construction on First Littoral Combat Ship

Marinette, WI, USA, Tuesday 8th February 2005

The Lockheed Martin team cut steel for the nation’s first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) early this month, marking the start of fabrication at Marinette Marine in Marinette. The team will deliver the first LCS to the U.S. Navy in late 2006.

U.S. Navy officials and members of the Lockheed Martin LCS team observe the first steel cut that marks the construction start of the lead LCS at Marinette Marine in Marinette, WI. LCS will provide the U.S. Navy with transformational capabilities in the littorals with an agile, highly-maneuverable monohull design. Front row, from left to right: Cmdr. Jerry Zinni, Program Manager SUPSHIP Gulf Coast Representative; Mr. Jim LaCosse, Director, Government Programs, Marinette Marine; Ms. Carol Hulgus, Vice President and General Manager, Lockheed Martin Littoral Ships & Systems; Mr. Joe North, Lockheed Martin LCS Program Manager; Capt. Don Babcock, U.S. Navy LCS Program Manager; Mr. Dennis McCloskey, President & General Manager, Marinette Marine; and Mr. Gerald Coakley, Plasma Cutting Operator, Marinette Marine.

The team was authorized to move to the construction phase after passing a Production Readiness Review on Jan. 14, demonstrating the team’s readiness to begin construction, based on design detail, personnel and material. During the review, the team also demonstrated an integrated program management approach to ensure a seamless transition from design to construction for on-time and on-budget delivery.

The Lockheed Martin team design, a proven semi-planing steel monohull, provides outstanding agility and high-speed manoeuvrability with known seakeeping characteristics to support launch and recovery operations, mission execution and optimum crew comfort. The Lockheed Martin-led team includes naval architects Gibbs & Cox, shipbuilders Marinette Marine, a subsidiary of The Manitowoc Company, Inc., [NYSE: MTW], and Bollinger Shipyards, as well as best-of-industry domestic and international team mates to provide a low-risk, affordable LCS solution.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

Media contact: Erica Rychwalski, +1 (202) 863-3412

For further information regarding the LCS and ShipConstructor, see the LCS Project Profile.