Matthew Nelson
A littoral combat ship manufactured by a Lockheed Martin-led team, has entered into active service with the U.S. Navy. USS Billings is the eighth of the Freedom-class vessels and the 15th LCS to join the Navy’s fleet, the company said Saturday. The ship was commissioned in Key West, Fla.
“On behalf of the proud 2,000 men and women who transform flat steel into a fast, agile surface combatant, we are honored to support the U.S. Navy, and we congratulate the outstanding crew of the USS Billings,†said Jan Allman, CEO at Fincantieri Marinette Marine.
LCS vessels, which are designed for close-to-shore missions, can travel up to 40 knots. Each ship uses a Mark 110 gun, which can fire 220 rounds in a single minute, and Rolling Airframe Missiles. Lockheed noted shipbuilding teams at the Fincantieri facility in Wisconsin are constructing and testing seven LCS units.
