Navy News
March 16, 2023
U.S. Navy Declares IOC Of MCM Mission Package
“The U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) mine countermeasures mission package (MCM MP) and AN/AQS-20 Sonar Mine Detection Sets achieved initial operational capability (IOC), officials announced on May 1.”
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/05/u-s-navy-declares-ioc-mcm-mission-package/
March 16, 2023
Navy’s mine-hunting package gets green light, ready for use on LCS
“The mine countermeasures mission packages replaces the Navy’s legacy Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships, among other platforms.”
March 16, 2023
Kendall: Air Force Wants as Many as 2,000 CCAs with a Common, Modular Airframe
“A Lockheed Martin “Speed Racer” experimental, low-cost, expendable collaborative combat aircraft flies alongside an F-35 in this Lockheed Martin image. Company officials said the ghosted F-35 hints at a role as a decoy.”
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/kendall-air-force-2000-ccas-common-modular-airframe/
March 9, 2023
USS Milwaukee Keeps Drugs from Reaching the United States
“The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), with embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 104, seized an estimated $27.4 million in suspected cocaine during an interdiction at sea, Feb. 28, 2023.”
February 22, 2023
Mother ships for drones will be ‘extremely important’ for the Navy’s future fleet, Secretary Del Toro says
“The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6) sails in the Gulf of Thailand, May 7, 2022.. The Navy is currently studying whether LCS could serve as mother ships for unmanned systems. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Alexandra Green)”
January 24, 2023
Northrop Grumman makes play to add power, space on DDGs for weapons
“Northrop Grumman says its Multifunction Prime Power System can manage an energy magazine implemented across a set of dynamic loads. (Northrop Grumman image)”
January 18, 2023
Lockheed floats laser weapon LLD for future LCS upgrade package
“Lockheed tested the weapon against a surrogate target representing a cruise missile at White Sands Missile Range in February.”
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/01/lockheed-floats-laser-weapon-lld-for-future-lcs-upgrade-package/
December 14, 2022
Littoral Combat Ship Integrates with Marine and Unmanned Steel Knight 23 Assets
“SAN DIEGO – Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6) returned to Naval Base San Diego Dec. 12 after leading a manned-unmanned team and integrating with Marine Corps aviation assets during exercise Steel Knight 23.”
December 6, 2022
Naval Station Mayport prepares for the big Christmas light battle
“Eight ships on base are decorating for the Christmas light competition.”
August 30, 2022
MCM Live Fire Exercise
“Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS 28) sails in the Pacific Ocean during a mine countermeasure (MCM) live fire training exercise off the coast of San Clemente Island, Aug. 22, 2022.”
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7390974/mcm-live-fire-exercise
May 31, 2022
Littoral Combat Ship USS Sioux City Now Operating in the Middle East
“Sioux City is operating in support of a newly established multinational task force, Combined Task Force (CTF) 153, focused on maritime security and partner capacity building in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden,” United States Naval Forces Central Command said in a news release.”
May 24, 2022
Austal USA Launches 34th Littoral Combat Ship For US Navy
“On May 23rd, Austal USA successfully launched the 17th Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Augusta (LCS 34).”
May 23, 2022
Navy Commissions Littoral Combat Ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul
“USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS-21) Sailors salute the audience during the commissioning ceremony of the ship in Duluth, Minn., on May 21, 2022. US Navy Photo”
May 16, 2022
LCS USS Montgomery Fires Hellfire Missiles in Land Attack Test
“An AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missile launches from the Surface-To-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) aboard Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Montgomery (LCS-8) on May 12, 2022.”
May 10, 2022
LCS USS Montgomery Fires Hellfire Missiles in Land Attack Test
“The Lockheed Martin-led shipbuilding team launched Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 29, the future USS Beloit. Ship sponsor, Major General Marcia M. Anderson, USA (Ret.) christened Littoral Combat Ship LCS 29, the future USS Beloit, prior to its launch into the Menominee River at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) Shipyard on May 7, 2022.”
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/05/lcs-29-uss-beloit-christened-and-launched/
May 5, 2022
First LCS deploys to European waters in 6th Fleet
“An MH-60S Seahawk helicopter transfers suspected contraband from the Freedom-variant LCS Billings to the LCS Sioux City on July 23, 2021. (MC2 Marianne Guemo/U.S. Navy)”
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2022/05/05/first-lcs-deploys-to-european-waters-in-6th-fleet/
January 10, 2022
Freedom LCS community to tackle mine warfare, grow its footprint in 2022
“The Freedom-variant LCS Billings steams through the Atlantic Ocean on Dec 16, 2021. (MC3 Aaron Lau/U.S. Navy).”
December 14, 2021
USS Oakland Equipped With Naval Strike Missile System
“The US Navy’s Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Oakland (LCS 24) completed the installation of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) with the NSM launch module on December 9 at Naval Base San Diego.”
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/12/14/uss-oakland-naval-strike-system/
October 30, 2021
USS Billings Returns Home After U.S. 4TH Fleet Deployment
“The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) returned to Mayport, Fla. Oct. 30, following its successful maiden deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations.”
October 28, 2021
USS Sioux City Interdicts Over $20 Million Worth of Cocaine
“CARIBBEAN SEA – The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11), with embarked U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment 102, interdicted over $20 million worth of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea, Sept. 19-20, 2021.”
August 24, 2021
US Navy completes testing of littoral combat ship’s minesweeper system
“The Unmanned Influence Sweep System, which includes Textron’s mine countermeasures unmanned surface vehicle towing a minesweeper, has completed initial operational test and evaluation and is nearing fielding. (Courtesy of Textron)”
August 11, 2021
Chinese See U.S. Littoral Combat Ship as ‘Powerful Tool’ in Future Distributed Conflicts
“Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) launches a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) during Exercise Pacific Griffin on Oct. 1, 2019. US Navy Photo”
June 28, 2021
Six Littoral Combat Ships to Deploy by Year’s End as Navy Continues to Refine Operations
“The Navy will have six Littoral Combat Ships deployed by the end of the year – a record for the program, several Navy officials have confirmed to USNI News.”
June 25, 2021
US Navy sees better LCS maintenance from sailors in ongoing Tulsa, Charleston deployments
“Independence-variant littoral combat ship Tulsa conducts routine operations in the Philippine Sea on June 13, 2021. Tulsa, part of Destroyer Squadron 7, is on a rotational deployment operating in the U.S. 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force.”
June 7, 2021
US Navy zeroes in on LCS flawed parts, maintenance slow-downs to improve operational days
“The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), front, exercises with the Republic of Singapore navy Formidable-class multi-role stealth frigate RSS Steadfast (FFS 70) in the South China Sea, May 25, 2020.”
December 18, 2020
USS Gabrielle Giffords Catches Drug Smuggling Vessel Carrying Over $100 Million of Cocaine
“The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) with embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 407 conducts enhanced counter-narcotics operations, Dec. 5, 2020.”
December 16, 2019
Tenth Freedom-Class LCS For U.S. Navy Completes Acceptance Trials
“Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 19, the future USS St. Louis, completed Acceptance Trials in Lake Michigan. Now that trials are complete, the ship will undergo final outfitting and fine-tuning before delivery.”
December 13, 2019
Abbott On Call Participates in David Taylor Naval Architecture Lecture Series
Mr. Tony Jang and Mr. Nicholas Abbott presented a two-part discussion titled “Realizing Flexible Ships: Flexibility Cost Savings Estimate for U.S. Navy” and “Lessons from Our Allies.” The presentation highlighted the benefits of the U.S. Navy incorporating flexible design features to increase the service lives of ships; and, how the modularity and flexibility “lessons learned” from U.S. allies could enhance the U.S. Navy’s methods of shipbuilding. This discussion was part of the monthly David Taylor Naval Architecture lecture series at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD).