Jump to content

Independence-class littoral combat ship

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.
For the class of aircraft carrier, see Independence-class aircraft carrier.

Independence-class littoral combat ship
Class overview
NameIndependence class
BuildersAustal USA
Operators United States Navy
Preceded byN/A
Succeeded byConstellation class[1][2][3][4]
Cost$360 million [citation needed]
Built2008–present
In commission2010–present
Planned19
Building1
Completed19
Active16
Retired2
General characteristics
TypeLittoral combat ship
Displacement2,543 short tons light, 3,422 short tons full[5]
Length418 ft (127 m)[5]
Beam104 ft (32 m)[5]
Draft14 ft (4.3 m)[5]
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed44 knots (51 mph; 81 km/h)[9]
Range4,300 nautical miles (7,964 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)[10]
Capacity210 metric tons (206 long tons, 231 short tons)
Complement40 core crew (8 officers, 32 enlisted) plus up to 35 mission crew
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried

The Independence class is a class of littoral combat ships built for the United States Navy.

The hull design evolved from a project at Austal to design a high speed, 40-knot-cruise ship. That hull design evolved into the high-speed trimaran ferry HSC Benchijigua Express and the Independence class was then proposed by General Dynamics and Austal as a contender for Navy plans to build a fleet of smaller, agile, multipurpose warships to operate nearshore in the littoral zone. Initially two ships were approved, to compete with Lockheed Martin's Freedom-class design.

Despite initial plans to only build ships of the winner out of the two competing Independence or Freedom classes, in 2010 the Navy announced plans to order up to ten additional ships of each class, for a total 12 ships per class.[17] In March 2016 the Navy announced their intention to order an additional two ships, increasing the order to 13 ships of each class.[18]

It was announced in early September 2016 that the first four vessels of the LCS program would be used as test ships rather than being deployed with the fleet.[19][20] This includes lead ship Independence and Coronado. As of May 2019, nine ships have been commissioned. In February 2020 it was announced that the Navy plans to retire the first four LCS ships.[21] On 20 June 2020, the US Navy announced that all four would be taken out of commission in March 2021, and will be placed in inactive reserve, because it would be too expensive to upgrade them to match the later ships in the class.[22][23]

Planning and construction

Independence under construction, 2007.

Planning for a class of smaller, agile, multipurpose warships to operate in the littoral zone began in the early 2000s. In July 2003, a proposal by General Dynamics (partnering with Austal USA, the American subsidiary of Australian shipbuilder Austal) was approved by the Navy, with a contract for two vessels.[24] These would then be compared to two ships built by Lockheed Martin to determine which design would be taken up by the Navy for a production run of up to 55 ships.

The first ship, Independence was laid down at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, on 19 January 2006. The planned second ship was cancelled in November 2007, but reordered in May 2009, and laid down in December of that year as Coronado, shortly before Independence was launched.[25][26]

The development and construction of Independence as of June 2009 was running at more than 3 times budget. The total projected cost for the ship is $704 million. The Navy had originally projected the cost at $220 million.[27] Independence began builder's trials in July 2009, three days behind schedule because of maintenance issues.[28] A leak in the port gas turbine saw the order of trials altered, but builder's and acceptance trials were completed by November,[29][30] and although her first INSURV inspection revealed 2,080 deficiencies, these were rectified in time for the ship to be handed over to the Navy in mid-December, and commissioned in mid-January 2010.[26][31]

Navy leaders said that the fixed price competition offered the Austal design an equal shot, in spite of its excess size, cost and limited service.[32] After much inconsistency on how testing and orders were to proceed, in November 2010, the Navy asked that Congress approve ten of each of the Independence and Freedom classes.[33][34][35]

Design

The trimaran design USS Independence

The Independence-class design began life at Austal as a platform for a high-speed cruise ship. The principal requirements of that project were speed, stability and passenger comfort, and Austal's team determined that the trimaran hull form offered significant passenger comfort and stability advantages over both a catamaran and a monohull. The high-speed cruise ship project evolved into Austal's commercial high-speed trimaran ferry HSC Benchijigua Express.[5]

The ships are 127.4 m (418 ft) long, with a beam of 31.6 m (104 ft), and a draft of 13 ft (3.96 m).[5] Their displacement is rated at 2,377 tons light, 3,228 tons full, and 851 tons deadweight.[5] The standard ship's company is 40, although this can increase depending on the ship's role with mission-specific personnel. The habitability area with bunks is located under the bridge. The helm is controlled by joysticks instead of traditional steering wheels.[36]

Although the trimaran hull increases the total surface area, it is still able to reach sustainable speeds of about 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph), with a range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi).[citation needed] Austal claims that the design will use a third less fuel than the competing Freedom class, but the Congressional Budget Office found that fuel would account for 18 percent or less of the total lifetime cost of Freedom.[37] The lack of bridge wings on the Independence class had been noted as the top problem in the entire LCS program to the extent that these will need to be retrofitted onto existing ships.[38] The lightweight aluminum construction of the Independence-class ships makes them more vulnerable to damage than the Freedom-class ships.[39]

The first ships of both LCS classes were delivered before the designs were mature so that improvements could be built into future ships. The Navy is improving the Independence class with bridge wings for safety and replacing the 5.1-metre (17 ft) Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) with a 7-metre (23 ft) boat. An improved cathodic protection system will enhance corrosion protection. Like the Freedom class, the Independence vessels will be getting axial flow water jets which pushes water parallel to the shaft of the impeller to improve efficiency and reduce maintenance; they will also be upgraded to handle the horsepower provided by the gas turbine propulsion system. A winch control system will modulate the motion of the anchor to reduce the reliance on manual hand brakes. The mission bay side door will be redesigned for reliability and the platform lift elevator reconfigured to better handle weapons and ordnance.[40]

Mission modules

The Trimaran hull of an Independence-class LCS

The LCS is reconfigured for various roles by changing mission packages, each of which includes mission module equipment (weapon systems, sensors, etc.), carried craft and mission crews.[41] Modules include Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), mine countermeasures (MCM), surface warfare (SUW), and special warfare missions.[42] The MCM and SUW modules are planned to reach initial operating capability in Fiscal year 2014, and the ASW module in FY2016.[43] Module changes were envisioned to allow a single LCS to change roles in a matter of hours at any commercial port allowing it to rapidly optimize effectiveness against a threat. A report from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) on a January 2012 sustainment wargame reportedly stated that, possibly for logistics reasons, the mission module changes may take as long as weeks, and that in the future the navy plans to use LCS ships with a single module, with module changes being a rare occurrence.[citation needed] In 2014, Independence switched from countermine to surface warfare modes in 96 hours on short notice.[44]

In an 8 September 2016 announcement, the Navy revealed a radical change in operations and organization plans for the LCS. Of the 28 Flight 0 ships built or on order, the first four, two of each class, will be turned into training ships and the remaining 24 will be divided into six divisions of four ships each; three divisions of the Freedom class based at Naval Station Mayport, Florida and three divisions of the Independence class based at Naval Station San Diego, California. The new organization does away with the LCS' signature interchangeable mission module concept, with each division being tasked to fulfill one of the three mission sets. Crewing is also changed into a more simplified two-crew "blue/gold" model, like that used on submarines and minesweepers, where ships cycle to forward deployed locations with the two crews swapping roles every 4–5 months; aviation detachments will also deploy with the same LCS crew, creating an arrangement of a core 70-sailor crew to conduct the warfare mission and a 23-person air detachment.[45][46]

Modular mission capability

Stern view of Independence while in port at NAS Key West

The Independence class carries a default armament for self-defense, and command and control. Unlike traditional fighting ships with fixed armament such as guns and missiles, tailored mission modules can be configured for one mission package at a time. Modules may consist of manned aircraft, unmanned vehicles, off-board sensors, or mission-manning detachments.[citation needed] The interior volume and payload is greater than some destroyers and is sufficient to serve as a high-speed transport and maneuver platform. The mission bay is 15,200 square feet (1,410 m2), and takes up most of the deck below the hangar and flight deck. With 11,000 cubic metres (390,000 cu ft) of payload volume, it was designed with enough payload and volume to carry out one mission with a separate mission module in reserve, allowing the ship to do multiple missions without having to be refitted.[citation needed]

One Mobicon Flexible Container Handling System is carried on each ship in order to move mission containers.[47][48] In addition to cargo or container-sized mission modules, the bay can carry four lanes of multiple Strykers, armored Humvees, and their associated troops. An elevator allows air transport of packages the size of a 20-foot-long (6.1 m) shipping container that can be moved into the mission bay while at sea. A side access ramp allows for vehicle roll-on/roll-off loading to a dock and would have allowed the ship to transport the since-cancelled Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.[49]

Armament and sensors

Crew loading a SeaRAM missile launcher

The Raytheon SeaRAM missile defense system is installed on the hangar roof. The SeaRAM combines the sensors of the Phalanx 1B close-in weapon system with an 11-missile launcher for the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile, creating an autonomous system.[50] The Independence-class ships also have an integrated LOS Mast, Sea Giraffe 3D Radar and SeaStar Safire FLIR. Northrop Grumman has demonstrated sensor fusion of on and off-board systems in the Integrated Combat Management System (ICMS) used on the LCS.[51] The vessels have an Interior Communications Center that can be curtained off from the rest of bridge instead of the heavily protected Combat Information Center found on other Navy warships.[52]

Side and forward surfaces are angled for reduced radar profile. The Fleet-class unmanned surface vessel is designed for operations from Independence-class ships.[53] The flight deck, 1,030 m2 (11,100 sq ft), can support the operation of two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters, multiple unmanned aerial vehicles, or one CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter. H-60 series helicopters provide airlift, rescue, anti-submarine, radar picket and anti-ship capabilities with torpedoes and missiles. DARPA's Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node (TERN) program aims to build a Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV) that can operate from LCS-2 and can carry a payload of 600 pounds (270 kg) out to an operational radius of 600–900 nautical miles (1,100–1,700 km).[54] First flight of a TERN demonstrator is expected in 2017.[55] The trimaran hull will allow flight operations up to sea state 5.[56] Austal USA vice president Craig Hooper has responded to critics of the class's light armament by suggesting that the ships employ long range drones instead.[57]

A naval strike missile is fired from the USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) in 2019

On 8 March 2017, Detroit successfully test fired a vertical-launched AGM-114 Hellfire missile, the first such launch from a littoral combat ship.[58] The Hellfire system on littoral combat ships is meant to engage smaller agile vessels and strike targets on land.

In late July 2014, the US Navy confirmed that the Naval Strike Missile would be tested aboard the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS-4).[59] The test occurred successfully on 24 September 2014.[60] Kongsberg and Raytheon teamed to pitch the NSM to equip the LCS as its over-the-horizon anti-ship missile in 2015.[61] By May 2017, the extended-range Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon and Lockheed Martin LRASM had been withdrawn from the Navy's Over-the-Horizon Weapon System (OTH-WS) competition, leaving the NSM as the only remaining contender.[62]

On 31 May 2018, the Navy officially selected the NSM to serve as the LCS' OTH anti-ship weapon. The $14.8 million initial contract award to Raytheon calls for the delivery of Kongsberg-designed "encanistered missiles loaded into launching mechanisms; and a single fire control suite," and buys about a dozen missiles; the entire contract value could grow to $847.6 million if all contract options are exercised.[63] The NSM will be designated as the RGM-184A in US service.[64]

Control system

US sailors training in a simulated LCS bridge

The control system for this class is provided by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems through an open architecture computing infrastructure (OPEN CI),[65] while Lockheed provides their own control system for their variant of the LCS.[66] OPEN CI includes the information technology (IT) infrastructure for the combat and seaframe control systems. This IT infrastructure also includes the primary operator interface for the control and monitoring of mission module operations.[67] The General Dynamics OPEN CI is also used on the Austal-built Spearhead-class Joint High Speed Vessel.[68]

Corrosion management

After the lead ship of the class suffered from aggressive disintegration due to galvanic corrosion, Austal has made changes to the remaining ships in the class. Coronado will have "new anti-corrosion surface treatments", and Jackson will have "an array of tested corrosion-management tools and processes".[69]

Hull cracks

On 10 May 2022, it was reported that six of the Navy's fleet of 13 Independence class LCS suffered from hull cracks above the waterline where the deck plate and shell plate join. The cracks may develop if the ships travel faster than 15 knots in seas with maximum wave heights of about eight feet. The issue was first identified in 2019 in the second commissioned ship, Coronado. The solution to the issue was to replace the deck plate and shell plate with plates of thicker material. Austal making a statement that the cracks do not "pose a risk to the safety of Sailors on board the ships" and NAVSEA stating that the cracks do not affect the ships' ability to execute their missions; however, at least one of the affected ships, Omaha, was under speed and sea state restrictions.[70][71][72]

Small Surface Combatant

In December 2014, the Navy's recommendation to base the Small Surface Combatant on upgraded versions of both Independence and Freedom LCSs was accepted. The SSC is an attempt by the Navy to increase the LCS' firepower and protection. Although Austal submitted improvements including vertical launch systems, 76 mm guns, and advanced combat systems and sensors, the Navy opted to keep the 57 mm gun, not add a VLS, and chose to add an upgraded 3-D radar. Other changes included installation of an unspecified over-the-horizon missile, Mark 38 25 mm guns, a torpedo countermeasures system, a multifunction towed array system, installation of a SeaRAM launcher (on the Freedom class), an upgraded countermeasures decoy system, an upgraded electronic warfare system, armor added to vital spaces, and improved signature management.[73]

The SSC will focus on Surface Warfare (SUW) and Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW) with these additions, as well as retaining all other features of their mission packages. The SSC is not required to perform Mine Counter Measures (MCM), which will continue to be handled by the LCS. The vessels will retain a degree of modularity to concentrate on one mission set and will still have mission bays, although they may be reduced. SSC vessels are planned to begin procurement by 2019, and it is being investigated if the enhancements can be added to existing LCS hulls.[73]

Derivative designs

Austal has proposed a much smaller and slower trimaran, called the 'Multi Role Vessel' (MRV 80). Though it is only half the size of their LCS design, it would still be useful for border protection and counter piracy operations.[74]

Austal unsuccessfully[75] entered the FFG(X) competition for the US Navy's new class of 20 frigates, unveiling a larger more heavily armed design called the "Austal Frigate" in April 2017. Their Frigate design was selected as one of the five finalists. Based on the Independence LCS trimaran hull, it features a slightly shorter flight deck for an aft section that can hold eight anti-ship missiles, an addition to the eight missile launchers in the forward section, for 16 total. The Austal Frigate design can feature an optional 16-cell Mk 41 VLS. For anti-submarine warfare, a variable depth sonar is planned as well as a towed array with its handling system.[76]

Ships

Ship order and naming history

The Navy originally ordered two Independence-class littoral combat ships, the lead ship Independence (LCS-2) and Coronado (LCS-4), named in March 2009 by then-Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter, with odd numbers being used for Freedom-class littoral combat ships.[77] On 29 December 2010, the Navy announced that it would be ordering up to ten additional Independence-class ships, for a total of 12 ships in the class.[17] On 25 March 2011, then-Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the names of the third and fourth Independence-class ships, Jackson (LCS-6) and Montgomery (LCS-8), during a press conference in Mobile, Alabama.[78] In February 2012, Secretary Mabus announced that the fifth ship of the class will be named Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10), and the sixth named Omaha (LCS-12).[79][80] The Navy announced the name Manchester (LCS-14) in April 2013[81] Tulsa (LCS-16) the following June.[82]

On 11 March 2014, the Navy awarded contract options to fund construction of LCS-18 and LCS-20, the seventh and eighth ships in a 10-ship contract.[83] In January 2015, Secretary Mabus announced the name of Charleston (LCS-18).[84] and Cincinnati (LCS-20) the following July. On 1 April 2015, the Navy awarded build contracts for LCS-22 and LCS-24 to Austal USA.[85][86] On 20 July 2015, at a Kansas City Royals baseball game being played at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, Secretary Mabus and Mayor Sly James announced the name of Kansas City (LCS-22).[87] On 20 August 2015, Secretary Mabus announced that the twelfth ship would be named Oakland (LCS-24).[88]

On 31 March 2016, Austal announced the order to build the thirteenth Independence-class vessel with a congressional cost cap of $564 million, which had been placed as an option under Austal's existing 10-vessel block-buy contract.[89] LCS-26 will be the eleventh vessel built under that contract and the thirteenth Independence-class vessel overall (the first two ships, Independence and Coronado were built prior to award of the 10-vessel contract).[89] In September 2016, Secretary Mabus announced the name of the next ship, Mobile (LCS-26).[90]

On 26 June 2017, Austal announced the order to build the fourteenth Independence-class vessel with a congressional cost cap of $584 million.[91] On 8 October 2017 Austal announced the order for LCS-30, the fifteenth ship of the class, to be built at a cost under the congressional cost cap of $584 million.[92] On 13 February 2018, Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer announced the name of LCS-28 as Savannah,[93] and on 23 February 2018, President Donald Trump announced the name of LCS-30 as Canberra.[94]

On 18 September 2018, the Navy announced that two additional Independence-class ships, and one Freedom-class ship, have been ordered,[95] with hull numbers LCS-32, LCS-34 and LCS-29 respectively. On 10 October 2018, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer announced the names of LCS-29 as Beloit, for Beloit, Wisconsin and LCS-32 as Santa Barbara, for Santa Barbara, California.[96]

On 16 December 2018, the Navy announced that two additional Independence-class ships have been ordered with hull numbers LCS-36, and LCS-38. [97]

Ships in class

Ship Hull Number Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Status
Independence LCS-2 19 January 2006 26 April 2008 16 January 2010[98] 29 July 2021[99] Decommissioned
Coronado LCS-4 17 December 2009 14 January 2012 5 April 2014[100] 14 September 2022[101] Decommissioned
Jackson LCS-6 1 August 2011 14 December 2013 5 December 2015[102] Active in service
Montgomery LCS-8 25 June 2013 6 August 2014 10 September 2016[103] Active in service
Gabrielle Giffords LCS-10 16 April 2014 25 February 2015 10 June 2017 Active in service
Omaha LCS-12 18 February 2015 20 November 2015 3 February 2018[104] Active in service
Manchester LCS-14 29 June 2015 12 May 2016 26 May 2018 Active in service
Tulsa LCS-16 11 January 2016 16 March 2017 16 February 2019 Active in service
Charleston LCS-18 28 June 2016 14 September 2017 2 March 2019 Active in service
Cincinnati LCS-20 10 April 2017 22 May 2018 5 October 2019 Active in service
Kansas City LCS-22 15 November 2017 19 October 2018[105] 20 June 2020 Active in service
Oakland LCS-24 20 July 2018 21 July 2019 17 April 2021[106] Active in service
Mobile LCS-26 14 December 2018[107] 11 January 2020 22 May 2021[108] Active in service
Savannah LCS-28 20 September 2019 8 September 2020 5 February 2022[109] Active in service
Canberra LCS-30 10 March 2020 30 March 2021 22 July 2023[110] Active in service
Santa Barbara LCS-32 27 October 2020 12 November 2021 1 April 2023[111] Active in service
Augusta LCS-34 30 July 2021 23 May 2022 30 September 2023 Active in service
Kingsville LCS-36 23 February 2022 23 March 2023 24 August 2024 Active in service
Pierre LCS-38 16 June 2023 5 August 2024 Fitting out

Plan to retire LCS hulls

During planning for the FY21 Budget proposal, Navy recommended the decommissioning of hulls 1–4 in 2021, some 10 years ahead of prior planning.[112] This was explained by Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Mike Gilday, during the WEST Conference on 2 March 2020, when he said:

We made a decision a number of years ago. ... In order to give capability to LCS 5 and beyond, particularly the block buys we did in 2015, we decided we needed to do much more testing and use those first four hulls, so that we could better understand what were the issues with respect to hull maintenance and engineering that kept plaguing us and kept us from getting those ships to sea. ... We used those first hulls to test and we put no money into upgrading them like the rest of the fleet. ... Those first four ships are not bringing lethality to the fight. ... I just didn't see the return on investment.[113]

There was also a comment that it would cost another $2 billion to get the first four hulls prepped for sea duty.[113]

On 20 June 2020, the US Navy announced that they would be taking Independence out of commission in March 2021, and placing her, along with Freedom, Fort Worth, and Coronado in reserve.[22][23]

In May 2021, the Navy confirmed it would decommission the first two littoral combat ships in 2021.[114] On 29 July 2021, the Navy decommissioned Independence.[99] Freedom was decommissioned on 29 September 2021.[115][116] Both ships will join the reserve fleet.

In June 2021, the Navy released an abbreviated long-range shipbuilding report to Congress, which included ships planned to be decommissioned during fiscal year 2022. This included the Independence class Coronado and three Freedom class ships, Fort Worth, Detroit, and Little Rock. All four ships would be placed Out of Commission in Reserve and retained as reactivation candidates.[117]

USS Independence appears in the Discovery Channel documentary Inside: A 21st Century Warship, which also features USS Freedom (LCS-1).[118]

The lemons' war ships in the Disney/Pixar movie Cars 2 are Independence-class.

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Navy Is Looking for a New Frigate to Replace the Troubled Littoral Combat Ship". 11 July 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  2. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  3. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (10 July 2017). "In a Blow to LCS, the US Navy Finally Admits it Needs a Real Frigate". Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  4. ^ Wetzel, Gary (12 July 2017). "The Littoral Combat Ship Is A Disaster And This Is The Solution". Foxtrot Alpha. Jalopnik. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "USS Independence (LCS 2)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  6. ^ "GE and U.S. Navy Celebrate 40th Operating Anniversary of LM2500 Gas Turbine" (Press release). GE Aviation. 27 October 2009. Archived from the original on 11 December 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Littoral Combat ships - LCS Detailed specification". Aerospace Exchange. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b Thompson, Jason (1 February 2010). "USS Independence LCS-2 - GE LM2500 Gas Turbines". Diesel Power Magazine. TruckTrend Network. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  9. ^ Sharp, David (22 October 2009). "Navy's newest warships top out at more than 50 mph". KOMO News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  10. ^ Reilly, Sean (4 April 2010). "In high-stakes LCS competition, disagreement on how to rank the best deal". al.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), United States of America". Naval-technology.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  12. ^ "GDLCS Media Center". AUSTAL/General Dynamics. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  13. ^ "General Dynamics Enhances LCS 10 with New Anti-ship and Land Attack Cruise Missile System". General Dynamics Corporation. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  14. ^ "NSM – Naval Strike Missile – Now Has a U.S. Navy Designation". Naval News. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Q & A with the U.S. Navy on Lockheed Martin Hellfire missiles for Littoral Combat Ships". Navyrecognition.com. 17 July 2014. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  16. ^ Freedburg Jr., Sydney J. (17 December 2014). "Fire Scout Grows Up: Drone Getting Radar, Rockets, 2016 IOC". Breakingdefense.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  17. ^ a b Special from Navy Office of Information (29 December 2010). "Littoral Combat Ship Contract Award Announced" (Press release). Navy News Service. NNS101229-09. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  18. ^ Sick, Hope Hodge (1 April 2016). "Two More Littoral Combat Ships Under Contract". DoD Buzz. Military.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  19. ^ "U.S. Navy announces Littoral Combat Ship program overhaul". Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  20. ^ Lendon, Brad; Browne, Ryan (12 September 2016). "US Navy overhauls troubled littoral combat ship program". CNN. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  21. ^ Kyle Mizokami (12 February 2020). "The Navy Wants to Retire a Ship That's Only Six Years Old". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  22. ^ a b Trevithick, Joseph (1 July 2020). "Navy Will Mothball Its First Four Littoral Combat Ships In Nine Months If Congress Lets It". thedrive.com. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  23. ^ a b Larter, David B. (1 July 2020). "US Navy's first 4 littoral combat ships to leave the fleet in 9 months". DefenseNews.com. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  24. ^ "General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Team Wins Preliminary Design Award for U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship" (Press release). General Dynamics. 17 July 2003. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010.
  25. ^ "Navy Terminates Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 4) Contract" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. 1 November 2007. 1269-07. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  26. ^ a b "General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team Delivers Independence (LCS 2) and Lays Keel for Coronado (LCS 4)". PR Newswire. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  27. ^ Ewing, Philip (29 June 2009). "LCS 2 delays trials after engine issue". Military Times. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2015.(subscription required)
  28. ^ Ewing, Philip (3 July 2009). "LCS 2 begins sea trials after 3-day delay". Military Times. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2015.(subscription required)
  29. ^ Ewing, Philip (4 August 2009). "Turbine-seal leak means more tests for LCS 2". NavyTimes. Retrieved 30 May 2015. (subscription required)
  30. ^ Cavas, Christopher P. (21 November 2009). "Trials successful for 2nd LCS hull". Military Times. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2015.(subscription required)
  31. ^ "Navy News Service". Navy.mil. 16 January 2010. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013.
  32. ^ "Navy says the field is level for teams competing for LCS contract". Archived from the original on 9 June 2011.
  33. ^ Sessions, Jeff (3 November 2010). "Sessions comments today regarding the Navy's proposal to purchase additional Littoral Combat Ship". Office of Jeff Sessions. GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  34. ^ "US Navy said to buy LCS warships from both bidders". Reuters. 3 November 2010. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  35. ^ Cavas, Christopher P. (4 November 2010). "Navy asks Congress to buy both LCS designs". Navy Times. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  36. ^ Cavas, Christopher P. (11 January 2010). "LCS 2 features large hangar, bigger berths". Military Times. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  37. ^ Reilly, Sean (7 May 2010). "Navy not using fuel cost data in LCS competition". al.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  38. ^ Fabey, Michael (30 November 2012). "Redeeming Freedom -- Changes for the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  39. ^ Lerman, David; Taborek, Nick (20 February 2013). "Ships Leaking $37 Billion Reflect Eisenhower's Warning". Bloomberg Business. Archived from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  40. ^ Osborn, Kris (27 June 2014). "Navy Engineers LCS Changes". DoDBuzz.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  41. ^ "Littoral Combat Ships - Mission Modules". Navy.mil. United States Navy. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  42. ^ "Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress." Archived 12 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Congressional Research Service, 18 March 2011.
  43. ^ Jean, Grace. "US Navy gears up for more at-sea tests of LCS mission modules." Janes, 5 November 2012.
  44. ^ CAVAS, CHRISTOPHER P. (30 August 2014). "RIMPAC Exercise Puts LCS Through Paces". Defensenews.com. Gannett. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  45. ^ Results of New LCS Review is Departure from Original Vision Archived 10 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine - News.USNI.org, 8 September 2016
  46. ^ Navy Takes 1st Four Littoral Combat Ships Out of Deployment Rotation Archived 14 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Military.com, 9 September 2016
  47. ^ "US Navy snaps up Aussie straddle carrier". SupplyChain Review. 25 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.
  48. ^ "Mobicon Flexible Container Handling System". Mobicon Systems. 2009. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  49. ^ "Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship" (PDF). General Dynamics. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  50. ^ "Raytheon Delivers SeaRAM to USS Independence" (Press release). Raytheon Company. 18 March 2008. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  51. ^ "Northrop Grumman-Led Team Demonstrates Means to Effectively Enhance Littoral Warfighting Capabilities". NASDAQ Global Newswire. 18 August 2009. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  52. ^ Cavas, Christopher (12 April 2010). "LCS 2: 'It'll blow your mind'". NavyTimes. Retrieved 30 May 2015. (subscription required)
  53. ^ Sobie, Brendan (24 August 2010). "AUVSI: Making a splash". Flightglobal. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  54. ^ "DARPA's New TERN Program Aims for Eyes in the Sky from the Sea". DARPA. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  55. ^ "Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node (TERN) Program Solicitation Number: DARPA-BAA-13-28". 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  56. ^ "USS Independence LCS 2 > General Info". 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 18 October 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  57. ^ Cox, Matthew (8 April 2013). "LCS Maker Responds to Ship's Firepower Critics". Military.com. Military Advantage. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  58. ^ Maass, Ryan (8 March 2017). "U.S. Navy test fires surface to surface missile module". upi.com.
  59. ^ LCS to conduct test of Norwegian missile Archived 21 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine – Militarytimes.com, 24 July 2014
  60. ^ Norwegian Missile Test On Littoral Combat Ship Successful – News.USNI.org, 24 September 2014
  61. ^ Raytheon and Kongsberg Team to Pitch Stealthy Norwegian Strike Missile for LCS – News.USNI.org, 9 April 2015
  62. ^ Lockheed Martin Drops LRASM Out of Littoral Combat Ship/Frigate Missile Competition - News.USNI.org, 24 May 2017
  63. ^ Raytheon Awarded LCS Over-the-Horizon Anti-Surface Weapon Contract; Deal Could be Worth $848M. USNI News. 31 May 2018.
  64. ^ "NSM - Naval Strike Missile - Now Has a U.S. Navy Designation". 4 October 2019.
  65. ^ "General Dynamics to Deliver Open Architecture-based Combat Systems for 10 Littoral Combat Ships" (Press release). General Dynamics. 3 January 2011. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  66. ^ Murtaugh, Dan (3 January 2010). "Austal taps General Dynamics for LCS combat systems". Press-Register. al.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  67. ^ "General Dynamics Successfully Integrates Littoral Combat Ship Mission Package Computing Environment" (Press release). General Dynamics. 18 March 2008. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014.
  68. ^ "OPEN CI: The Power of Open Architecture". General Dynamics. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  69. ^ Axe, David (5 July 2011). "Plenty of Blame to Go Around for 'Disappearing' Warship". Wired. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  70. ^ Ziezulewicz, Geoff (10 May 2022). "The littoral combat ship's latest problem: Class-wide structural defects leading to hull cracks". Navy Times. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  71. ^ Helfrich, Emma; Parken, Oliver (11 May 2022). "The Navy's Independence Class Littoral Combat Ships Are Cracking". The Drive. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  72. ^ "US Navy chief defends plan to scrap troubled warships even though some are less than 3 years old". CBS58. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  73. ^ a b Cavas, Christopher P. (11 December 2014). "Split Decision on New US Navy Ship". Defensenews.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  74. ^ "Multi Role Vessel MRV80" (PDF). Austal. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  75. ^ Eckstein, Megan (30 April 2020). "Fincantieri wins $795m contract for navy frigate program". US Naval Institute. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  76. ^ Austal Unveils Updated LCS Frigate Design with 16x Anti-Ship Missiles Archived 6 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine - Navyrecognition.com, 5 April 2017
  77. ^ "San Diego Union-Tribune, Future Warship To Bear The City's Name". signonsandiego.com. 15 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  78. ^ Department of Defense Public Affairs (25 March 2011). "Navy Names Next Two Littoral Combat Ships" (Press release). United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  79. ^ Department of the Navy (10 February 2012). "Navy Names Littoral Combat Ship Gabrielle Giffords" (Press release). Navy News Service. NNS120210-25. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  80. ^ "Introducing... The USS Omaha". WOWT. 15 February 2012. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  81. ^ "Secretary of the Navy Names Multiple Ships" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. 12 April 2013. 237-13. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  82. ^ Department of Defense Public Affairs (6 June 2013). "SecNav Names Multiple Ships" (Press release). Navy News Service. NNS130606-21. Archived from the original on 20 July 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  83. ^ "US Navy funds two further Littoral Combat Ships" (Press release). Austal USA. 11 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  84. ^ Kropf, Schuyler (9 January 2015). "USS Charleston an easy choice, Navy Secretary says". The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  85. ^ Jean, Grace (1 April 2015). "USN awards FY 2015 LCS contracts". IHS Jane's Navy International. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  86. ^ "U.S. Navy funds two further Littoral Combat Ships, with option added for a third" (Press release). Austal. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  87. ^ Campbell, Matt (20 July 2015). "New USS Kansas City shown off before Royals game". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  88. ^ "Secretary of the Navy Names Littoral Combat Ship" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. 20 August 2015. NR-333-15. Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  89. ^ a b "U.S. Navy Funds Additional Littoral Combat Ship" (Press release). Austal. 31 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  90. ^ "US Navy's next littoral combat ship named USS Mobile". 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  91. ^ "Austal USA Awarded Littoral Combat Ship 28" (Press release). Austal. 26 June 2017. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  92. ^ "Austal USA Awarded Littoral Combat Ship 30" (Press release). Austal. 8 October 2017. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  93. ^ "Secretary of the Navy Names Two Littoral Combat Ships". navy.mil. 13 February 2018. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  94. ^ "Donald Trump announces newest US warship to be named after Canberra/". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. 23 February 2018. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  95. ^ "Navy Awards Three Littoral Combat Ships". navy.mil. 18 September 2018. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  96. ^ "US Navy names two more littoral combat ships". navaltoday.com. 10 October 2018. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  97. ^ "AUSTAL AWARDED LCS 36, AND 38". Austal. 16 December 2018. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  98. ^ Surface Forces Public Affairs (6 January 2010). "USS Independence Commissioned" (Press release). Navy News Service. NNS100116-31. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  99. ^ a b "USS Independence (LCS 2) Decommissions After Distinguished Service". United States Navy. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  100. ^ Ryan, Donnie W. (5 April 2014). "USS Coronado Commissioned in Namesake City" (Press release). Navy News Service. NNS140405-05. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  101. ^ "USS Coronado (LCS 4) Decommissions". United States Navy. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  102. ^ Church, Kathleen L. (5 December 2015). "USS Jackson (LCS 6) Commissioned" (Press release). Navy News Service. NNS151207-02. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  103. ^ Yawn, Andrew J. (10 September 2016). "'Man our ship': USS Montgomery commissioned". Montgomery Advertiser. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  104. ^ "USS Omaha will be commissioned in San Diego today". 3 February 2018. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  105. ^ "USS Kansas City released into Mobile River". kshb.com. 19 October 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  106. ^ Archus, Dorian (17 April 2021). "U.S. Navy commissions 12th Independence-variant LCS USS Oakland - Naval Post". Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  107. ^ "US Navy lays keel for littoral combat ship Mobile (LCS 26)". Naval Today. 18 December 2018. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  108. ^ Conklin, Audrey (22 May 2021). "Navy commissions new USS Mobile in Alabama". Fox News. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  109. ^ "USS Savannah Commissioning". Dvidshub.net. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  110. ^ "US Navy warship USS Canberra commissioned in Sydney". Sky News Australia. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  111. ^ "Navy to Commission Future Littoral Combat USS Ship Santa Barbara" (Press release). United States Navy. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  112. ^ Larter, David B. (24 December 2019). "US Navy proposes decommissioning first 4 LCS more than a decade early". Navy Times.
  113. ^ a b Ziezulewicz, Geoff (3 March 2020). "CNO sounds off 'with all due respect' about how the Navy trains and deploys crews". Navy Times.
  114. ^ Shelbourne, Mallory (17 May 2021). "Navy to Decommission Littoral Combat Ships USS Freedom, USS Independence Later This Year". news.usni.org. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  115. ^ Burgess, Richard R. (17 February 2021). "Navy Details Revised 2021 Ship Decommissioning Schedule". Seapower. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  116. ^ "USS Freedom (LCS 1) Decommissions". Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. San Diego, CA. 29 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  117. ^ LaGrone, Sam (17 June 2021). "Pentagon Reissues FY 22 Shipbuilding Totals to Congress In Lieu of 30-Year Plan". news.usni.org. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  118. ^ "Inside: 21st Century Warship". tvguide.com. 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Independence-class littoral combat ship.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Independence-class_littoral_combat_ship&oldid=1256917570"