BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Navy has
issued a Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) led industry team the balance
of funding of $279 million for the
construction of the future USS Cooperstown (LCS 23).
The funding approved by Congress provides the financing required
to maintain the cost and schedule of this critical national
asset. Congress provided $79
million in advanced procurement funding for LCS 23 in March
2015.
"By providing this funding, the Navy demonstrates its commitment
to the Lockheed Martin-led team in building the advanced
Freedom-variant littoral combat ship," said Joe North, vice president of Littoral Ships and
Systems at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training. "We have
delivered three of these ships to the fleet so far, and we stand
committed on the remaining block buy deliveries."
The award comes just days after the Navy commissioned the
Freedom-variant USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) in the city of Milwaukee.
The Lockheed Martin-led industry team, which includes
shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine and naval architect Gibbs
& Cox, has already delivered three Freedom-variant littoral
combat ships to the U.S. Navy. USS Freedom conducted a successful
deployment to Southeast Asia in
2013 and is currently operating out of her homeport in San Diego. USS Fort Worth is currently
deployed in Southeast Asia,
serving in the U.S. 7th Fleet.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that – with the addition of
Sikorsky – employs approximately 126,000 people worldwide and is
principally engaged in the research, design, development,
manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology
systems, products and services.
About Fincantieri Marinette Marine
Founded in 1942,
Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) is located on the Menominee
River flowage into Green Bay. The
largest shipyard in the Midwest, MMC has delivered more than 1,300
vessels to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and commercial
customers, including the technologically advanced Littoral Combat
Ship Freedom variant for the U.S. Navy. In 2008, FMM along with
several sister shipyards also based in the Great Lakes region,
became part of FINCANTIERI, the largest shipbuilder in the western
Hemisphere and world leader in diversification and presence in
every high value-added market sector, with 21,700 employees, of
whom around 7,700 are located in Italy, and 21 shipyards on four continents.
FINCANTIERI operates in the United
States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group,
serving both civilian and government customers. Over the past five
years, FINCANTIERI invested more than $100
million in both capital infrastructure and its resources to
support FMM's transformation into what is now one of the best
shipyards in the United States.
Employing approximately 1,500 employees, today FMM is a
state-of-the-art, full service new construction shipyard.
About Gibbs & Cox:
Gibbs & Cox, the nation's
leading independent maritime solutions firm specializing in naval
architecture, marine engineering and design, is headquartered in
Arlington, Virginia. The company,
founded in 1929, has provided designs for nearly 80 percent of the
current U.S. Navy surface combatant fleet; approaching 7,000 naval
and commercial ships have been built to Gibbs & Cox
designs.
For additional information, visit our website:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/littoral-combat-ship.html.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin