New Lockheed-Built Navy LCS Goes Into Active Service; Stephanie Hill Comments

The U.S. Navy placed its fifth Littoral Combat Ship into active service during a commissioning ceremony held in Milwaukee Saturday.

Lockheed Martin designed and built the Freedom-class USS Milwaukee LCS with Gibbs & Cox and Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Lockheed said Saturday.

“The entire Lockheed Martin-led LCS industry team is proud to deliver USS Milwaukee to the crew who will bring this great ship to life to participate in the defense of our great nation,” said Stephanie Hill, vice president of ship and aviation systems at Lockheed.

Lockheed marked the commissioning of the vessel with the launch of the Harley-Davidson-designed Softail Slim S motorcycle.

Lockheed handed the ship to the Navy on Oct. 16 following the completion of acceptance trials in September.

The service branch will bring the LCS to San Diego to conduct crew training and additional testing prior to initial deployment.