Marinette Marine Facility Expansion to Enhance Lockheed Martin’s Littoral Combat Ship Program
Marinette Marine Facility Expansion to Enhance Lockheed Martin's Littoral Combat Ship ProgramMarch 15, 2010 11:08:00 AM
MARINETTE, Wis., -- Marinette Marine Corporation, a member of the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-led Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) industry team, recently broke ground for an expansion to nearly double the size of its main indoor ship construction building -- an investment to support the construction of the U.S. Navy's LCS.
The expansion will provide enough indoor space to simultaneously house two complete LCS hulls and parts for two additional ships. The building enhancements also allow greater use of Marinette Marine's proven modular construction process, which will enable the Lockheed Martin team to construct LCS more cost effectively.
The ground-breaking is the latest in a recent series of investments made by the shipyard's parent company, Fincantieri, as part of its five-year, $100 million plan to modernize its U.S. shipbuilding operations and support the LCS program. In 2009, Marinette Marine installed higher-capacity overhead cranes, plasma-cutting tables and pipe-bending machines to increase efficiency and capacity. In 2008, Lockheed Martin also became a minority partner in the shipyard, while continuing to share its project management and lean manufacturing techniques to meet the LCS program's cost and schedule goals.
"This is a terrific investment by Fincantieri and represents the commitment they're willing to make to continue quality shipbuilding at Marinette Marine," said Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin. "It's an investment in the men and women employed there, in the community that is so supportive of this company, and in their ability to give the Navy a well-built LCS at a competitive price."
"This groundbreaking represents a significant milestone in the transformation of Marinette Marine to the premier mid-tier shipyard in the United States," said Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri's chief executive officer. "The building expansion will allow us to fully complete a large ship such as LCS completely indoors at an even higher degree of completion and quality."
Marinette Marine constructed and launched the nation's first LCS, USS Freedom. Commissioned by the U.S. Navy in 2008, USS Freedom was deployed two years ahead of schedule and recently completed three successful drug interdictions. The shipyard is also constructing the Navy's third LCS, Fort Worth (LCS 3).
"Fort Worth is on cost and on schedule, with 90 percent of its modules under construction and more than 30 percent of the ship complete," said Dan Schultz, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Ship and Aviation Systems business. "The improvements underway at Marinette Marine increase the team's capacity in meeting the U.S. Navy's need for an affordable, survivable LCS. We've already seen a 30 percent reduction in labor cost from our first ship."
"With investments from Fincantieri and a strong partnership with the state, Marinette Marine continues to move forward as a world leader in high-quality ship building," said Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle. "The recent launch of the USS Freedom is a testament to the hard work and ingenuity of the Marinette Marine Corporation workforce. With this groundbreaking Marinette Marine will become even more competitive, and create more jobs in this community."
Designed to operate in littoral waters, the Lockheed Martin-led team's LCS features semi-planing steel monohull that provides the Navy with a survivable, fast, and agile shallow-draft warship that maximizes mission flexibility and accessibility. With a proven open architecture networked, combat-management system common to other surface combatants in U.S. and international navies, the Lockheed Martin team's LCS provides unprecedented levels of reliability and interoperability with global maritime forces.
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Corporate restructuring, LCS (Littoral Combat Ship), Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Naval Systems
Navy Reversal Turns Partners Into Competitors
Last year the Navy shook up its plans to buy the new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). This was a small, advanced ship that would operate close to shore...Nation’s First Littoral Combat Ship Departs For Maiden Deployment
Filed under: Lockheed Martin, Syndicated Industry News
February 16, 2010 3:30:00 PM
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MAYPORT, Fla., -- The nation's first Littoral Combat Ship, USS Freedom (LCS 1), departed from Naval Station Mayport, FL, today for its maiden deployment, approximately two years ahead of schedule. The agile 378-foot USS Freedom, designed and built by a Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-led industry team, will deploy to the Southern Command area of responsibility.
"We congratulate the USS Freedom and her crew on their maiden deployment as this new class of Littoral Combat Ships begins to fulfill important global security missions," said Lockheed Martin Chairman and CEO Bob Stevens. "Her quality and proven performance enabled Freedom's deployment two years ahead of schedule, a significant accomplishment in naval shipbuilding. As we compete to build additional ships for the U.S. Navy, the Lockheed Martin team remains focused on delivering an affordable surface combatant with the flexibility to provide security close to shore and on the open seas."
USS Freedom (LCS 1) is the first of 55 the Navy plans for a new class of ships designed to operate in coastal waters. The ship's capabilities have been demonstrated since delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2008. Freedom has sailed more than 10,000 nm, successfully completed sea trials and demonstrated performance of combat, communications and other critical systems.
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Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)
Fiscal Year 2011 Department of the Navy Budget Submission
NNS100201-24. Fiscal Year 2011 Department of the Navy Budget SubmissionFebruary 2, 2010
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Department of the Navy (DoN) budget submission of $160.6 billion delivered today is consistent with the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, the basic tenets of the National Defense Strategy and the Maritime Strategy. The fiscal year (FY) 2011 baseline budget is a $4.6 billion, or 3 percent increase over the FY2010 level.
Navy and Marine Corps resources have been prioritized to prevail in today's wars, prevent and deter conflict in all domains, prepare for a wide range of contingencies and preserve the force.
Additionally, the FY 2011 request for overseas contingency operations (OCO) of $18.5 billion integrates sustained support for the warfighter. It includes incremental costs to sustain operations, manpower, equipment and infrastructure repair, as well as equipment replacement to support the focus on increasing threats.
The FY 2011 budget supports a deployable battle force of 284 ships including 11 aircraft carriers and 29 large amphibious ships. It also reflects a shift to support irregular warfare and includes funds for the littoral combat ship (LCS), expeditionary E/A-18G aircraft supporting national electronic warfare requirements, P-8 Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance aircraft supporting increased emphasis on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles.
In the area of ship procurement, this budget funds nine new construction ships in FY2011 and 50 ships across the Future Years Defense Plan (FY 2011 through FY 2015)including two Virginia-class submarines per year, 17 LCSs, 8 DDG-51-class ships to continue the DDG-51 program restart, three new Mobile Landing Platforms, the first LHA(R) and the second Ford-class aircraft carrier.
In addition, aircraft procurement funds 206 airframes in FY 2011 and 1,006 airframes across the FYDP.
Navy Operation and Maintenance resources are increased to tightly focus on meeting increased combatant commander operational tempo requirements, properly sustaining and resetting ships and aircraft to reach expected service lives, restoring base budget enduring flight hour requirements previously funded with overseas contingency operations funding, and funding price increases, most notably in fuel.
Military and civilian basic pay is increased by 1.4 percent. Commitment to our investments in science and technology, cyberspace capabilities, facilities sustainment, base closure and family housing is maintained.
For more DoN FY11 budget information, visit http://www.finance.hq.navy.mil/fmb/11pres/books.htm
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Defense budget, US Navy (USN)
General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team Delivers Independence (LCS 2) and Lays Keel for Coronado (LCS 4) — Press Release
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, General Dynamics, Press Releases, production program
General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team Delivers Independence (LCS 2) and Lays Keel for Coronado (LCS 4)
MOBILE, Ala., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team today delivered Independence (LCS 2), its innovative high-speed trimaran combatant ship, to the United States Navy. The ship was constructed by team member Austal USA in Mobile. The delivery of Independence was preceded by the keel laying of its sister ship, Coronado (LCS 4), on Thursday, December 17.
Captain Dean Krestos, USN, Commanding Officer Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Bath, Maine, officially accepted custody of Independence (LCS 2), the Navy’s first warship configured with a trimaran hull form. After signing the custody transfer documentation, Captain Krestos noted, “It gives me great pleasure, on behalf of the United States Navy, to accept delivery of the LCS-2, Independence, bringing to the fleet the second ship of this exciting new class of surface combatants.”
A brief ceremony was conducted at Austal USA Headquarters to commemorate the ship’s delivery. Those present included RDML James Murdoch, USN, the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship program manager; CDR Curt Renshaw and CDR Mike Riley, the ship’s Blue and Gold Crew Commanding Officers; Jim Baskerville, vice president of the LCS Program for General Dynamics Bath Iron Works; Bob Browning, Austal Managing Director; Joe Rella, Austal USA President and Chief Operating Officer; and other Navy and General Dynamics LCS Team representatives.
RDML Murdoch, speaking on behalf of the Navy, praised the combined efforts of the Navy / industry team in delivering LCS 2 and the characteristics of the ship itself. Speaking for the entire General Dynamics LCS Team, Baskerville said, “Delivering Independence is a significant accomplishment for our team. Today, we provide the Navy with a new and highly capable warship equipped with extraordinary aviation features, large payload capacity and an open architecture computing environment for future missions – all contained within an extremely fast, stable and efficient trimaran hull form to support the Navy’s needs today and tomorrow. We’ve designed Independence to fight – and we’ve built it to win.”
Independence (LCS 2) will remain in Mobile, Ala., awaiting its commissioning on January 16, 2010, marking the first time a Navy ship has been commissioned in the city since 1945. After commissioning, the Navy will operate the ship in preparation for the ship’s next set of trials in the summer of 2010.
High resolution still images and video clips of Independence at sea are available at www.gdlcs.com.
On Thursday, a brief keel laying ceremony was held in Mobile at Austal USA’s Assembly Bay 4 to record completion of the first major construction milestone for what will soon be the Navy’s second high-speed trimaran Littoral Combat Ship, Coronado (LCS 4). In attendance were a number of Navy representatives, including RDML James Murdoch, Navy Littoral Combat Ship Program Manager, and members of the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team, including members of the Austal USA work force. The keel module, a large outfitted section of the aluminum ship’s center hull, was the centerpiece of the ceremony.
In welcoming attendees, Baskerville said, “This is a significant day for the entire GD LCS Team and our Navy counterparts in Washington, Bath and Mobile. The lessons learned during the construction of Independence are already being applied to Coronado to ensure it will be, like Independence, a highly capable and effective platform to support the Navy’s needs.”
Speaking for the Navy, RDML Murdoch noted the significant facility and efficiency improvements being made at Austal to the benefit of Coronado and future LCS ships. He also expressed high confidence and respect for the sailors that will serve and take Coronado into harm’s way.
Coronado (LCS 4) is scheduled for delivery in June 2012.
Independence and Coronado are major parts of the Navy’s plan to address asymmetric threats in the 21st century. Intended to operate in coastal areas, the ships will be fast, highly maneuverable and equipped to support mine detection/elimination, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare mission.
The ships’ highly flexible OPEN CI design, developed and integrated by a General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems team, allows “plug and play” integration of both the core systems and the LCS mission modules. It meets Navy open architecture requirements, strictly adheres to published industry standards and facilitates the integration of commercially available products.
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is the prime contractor for the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team. Partners include shipbuilder Austal USA (Mobile, AL); General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (Fairfax, VA); BAE Systems (Rockville, MD); L3 Communications Marine Systems (Leesburg, VA); Maritime Applied Physics Corporation (Baltimore, MD); and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (Baltimore, MD).
Bath Iron Works employs approximately 5,500 people. Since 1991, BIW has manufactured and delivered 31 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers; the shipyard is also building the lead ship of the Navy’s Zumwalt (DDG 1000) class of guided missile destroyers.
Austal USA’s Mobile facility currently employs almost 1,000 workers and is one of the largest aluminum shipyards in the world. In addition to the LCS, recent projects have included construction of the largest-ever aluminum ferry in the United States. Austal is also in the pre-construction design phase on the first Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) for the U.S. Department of Defense.
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a provider of end-to-end mission solutions in systems integration, development and operations support to customers in the defense, intelligence, space and homeland security communities. The company integrates land, air, sea, space and cyber assets to facilitate the collection, exploitation, analysis and dissemination of mission-critical intelligence information.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,300 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.
Source: General Dynamics Bath Iron Works
CONTACT: Jim DeMartini, +1-207-442-1695, Fax: +1-207-442-1009,
jim.demartini@gdbiw.com
Web Site: http://www.gdlcs.com/
Navy Reorients LCS Acquistition Strategy
The U.S. Navy has decided to restructure the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program to use sole source production only after a contest next year....Landing of Gas Turbine Engines Is Latest Milestone For Nation’s Third Littoral Combat Ship
Filed under: Lockheed Martin, Syndicated Industry News
September 17, 2009
MARINETTE, Wis. -- The Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-led industry team completed another key milestone in constructing the nation's third Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) with the landing of the vessel's two main propulsion gas turbines. More than 50 percent of the ship's modules are under construction at the Marinette Marine shipyard. LCS 3, named Fort Worth, is scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2012.
Designed to operate in coastal waters, the LCS provides the Navy with a fast, agile shallow-draft warship that maximizes mission flexibility. The vessel is a highly automated and networked surface combatant which can accommodate mission packages that provide the ship with the ability to execute focused missions such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, as well as other potential missions.
Fort Worth's gas turbine engines, part of an innovative combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion plant with steerable water jets, are a critical part of the Lockheed Martin team's proven LCS propulsion system. The same system has successfully powered USS Freedom (LCS 1) since that ship's November 2008 commissioning. Two Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines - the largest gas turbines installed on any Navy ship class - will allow Fort Worth to sustain sprint speeds of well over 40 knots, as demonstrated with USS Freedom. The propulsion system also has two fixed and two steerable Rolls-Royce water jets which enable superior maneuverability for mission execution.
"The success that Freedom achieved in its acceptance trials proves the soundness of the logistical, technological and manufacturing approach that the team is using to build LCS," said Dan Schultz, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Integrated Defense Technologies business. "We're using the lessons learned from LCS 1 to build LCS 3 even more efficiently and cost effectively."
In March 2009, the Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a fixed price incentive fee contract to construct Fort Worth. In July, the ship's sponsor, Rep. Kay Granger (R-12-Texas) joined the Lockheed Martin team members and U.S. Navy representatives for its keel laying ceremony.
Lockheed Martin's LCS team delivered the first-of-class USS Freedom to the fleet in only six years from its initial concept, half the time of traditional shipbuilding programs. Team members include naval architect Gibbs & Cox, ship builders Marinette Marine Corporation, a Fincantieri company, and Bollinger Shipyards, as well as domestic and international teammates.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.
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Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Naval Systems
Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) See Growth In Prices
Filed under: Austal, Australia, Business Line, Companies, Congress, Countries, Department of Defense, Events, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Marinette Marine, Services, U.S. Navy, development program, production program
The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a new class of light warships for the U.S. Navy designed to fight close inshore and have the ability to mix-and-match its systems to the mission requirements. The Navy currently has ordered four of the controversial ships two each from Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics. The plan is to buy three more in 2010 from one or both of the contractors.
Due to cost growth in the first two ships the Navy had at one point had canceled the contracts for ships 3 and 4. Congressional pressure made them order these next two ships. The initial estimate was that the ships would cost $220 million on average but the price tags have slowly escalated over time. Now LCS 1 is estimated to cost $637 million and hull 2 $704 million. Congress has placed a cap of only $460 million for the average cost. The Navy originally intended to build over fifty of the vessels.
With the continued cost growth of the existing program it is hard to see how the Navy can continue it. There will have to be a restructuring of the costs and number of ships planned. If not the program will like the bigger DDG-1000 class look like a good candidate to end with the Navy having to accept a new design or continue constructing existing ships.
Navy Awards LCS Contract
Filed under: Business Line, Contract Additions, Contract Awards, Events, Marinette Marine, Services, States, U.S. Navy, Wisconsin, production program
The U.S. Navy awarded Marinette Marine a contract modification in order to “preserve production capability” for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. The Business Journal reports that Marinette Marine was part of a team with Lockheed Martin that built one of the first two LCS ships for the Navy. The Navy plans to award two more ships and it was believed that only one of the two teams that had built a ship each would qualify for this next order. This contract action prevented Marinette Marine from cutting back on its work force, hence the preserving part. There is still no guarantee that the company will get further LCS work but it keeps the option open.



