Congressional debates could delay its funding, but not the launching of the United States' third Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the USS Fort Worth, last December 4th at the Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, WI. The second such vessel constructed by a Lockheed Martin (www.lockheedmartin.com) team, the 389-ft-long USS Fort Worth was launched into the Menominee River (Fig. 1). Just prior to its launch, the ship's sponsor, Congresswoman Kay Granger of Texas, christened Fort Worth with the traditional smashing of a champagne bottle across the ship's bow. The ship is actually 80 percent complete and will continue to undergo outfitting and testing at Marinette Marine before delivery to the US Navy in 2012.
Cost overruns on the first two of a planned fleet of LCS vessels almost put a stop to the construction of the Fort Worth. The US Navy has initially ordered the first four LCS vessels from General Dynamics ( www.generaldynamics.com ) and Lockheed Martin, with the former company to build the first and third ships in the series. The first LCS (LCS-1), the USS Freedom, was launched in 2006 to much fanfare at this same Marinette Marine shipyard. The second vessel (LCS-2), the USS Independence from General Dynamics, followed in 2008. But when the costs for the first two ships exceeded initial contract limits, the US Navy cancelled the contracts for the third and fourth ships in 2007. But in 2009, the US Navy renewed those contracts, paving the way for the completion of the USS Fort Worth. The fourth LCS, the USS Coronado, is scheduled for completion around May 2012.
[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]
[FIGURE 2 OMITTED]
The two LCS designs are somewhat different, with the Lockheed LCS using a high-speed monohull and the General Dynamics model equipped with a trimaran hull. Each design is capable of speeds exceeding 40 knots and long-range distances of more than 3500 miles. They are designed to launch and recover a variety of vehicles, featuring flight decks and hangers large enough for two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters as well as a wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). UAVs include the remotely piloted MQ-8 Fire Scout (Fig. 2) unmanned helicopter developed by Northrop Grumman (www.northropgrumman.com), which is ideal for targeting and reconnaissance missions. USVs include the Spartan Scout, about 23 feet in length complete with a compliment of sensors and a 0.50 caliber machine gun; it was developed for the US Navy through the combined efforts of Radix Marine (www.radixmarine.com), Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Co. (www.raytheon.com).
"It is an incredibly rewarding experience to see Fort Worth launch into the water--on time and on budget," says Orlando Carvalho, president of Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Sensors business. "The team's strong performance and hard work in bringing Fort Worth to this point illustrates our ability to meet the Navy's need for a class of affordable, multi-mission combatants."
"Serving as the USS Fort Worth's sponsor is one of the proudest moments in my career," says Granger. "This is just the beginning of a commitment I am making with everyone in Fort Worth to all who will sail on the ship over the course of her life."
The LCS vessels are designed to make use of launched remote surface and air vehicles and their host of sensors to detect threats at some distance from the ship. The agile LCS vessels are capable of close-to-shore maneuvers and are easy to reconfigure for different tasks, including intelligence and surveillance. They are faster than assault ships and minesweepers, and designed to provide similar functions when needed. By using the remotely controlled vehicles at some distance from the ship's hull, the crew is kept out of harm's way, and these remote vehicles can still perform functions normally associated with the mothership, including sonar sweeps for mines and launching torpedoes against hostile submarines.
WILLIAM WONG
TECHNOLOGY EDITOR
Wong, William
Source Citation
Wong, William. "Third littoral combat ship is launched: the controversial US Naval Littoral fleet employs extremely agile surface vehicles that make use of surface and air robotic 'extensions' for information-gathering and defensive functions." Electronic Design 10 Mar. 2011: S16. Gale Power Search. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.
Document URL
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA268869903&v=2.1&u=22054_acld&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w
Gale Document Number: GALE|A268869903
Congressional debates could delay its funding, but not the launching of the United States' third Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the USS Fort Worth, last December 4th at the Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, WI. The second such vessel constructed by a Lockheed Martin (www.lockheedmartin.com) team, the 389-ft-long USS Fort Worth was launched into the Menominee River (Fig. 1). Just prior to its launch, the ship's sponsor, Congresswoman Kay Granger of Texas, christened Fort Worth with the traditional smashing of a champagne bottle across the ship's bow. The ship is actually 80 percent complete and will continue to undergo outfitting and testing at Marinette Marine before delivery to the US Navy in 2012.
Cost overruns on the first two of a planned fleet of LCS vessels almost put a stop to the construction of the Fort Worth. The US Navy has initially ordered the first four LCS vessels from General Dynamics ( www.generaldynamics.com ) and Lockheed Martin, with the former company to build the first and third ships in the series. The first LCS (LCS-1), the USS Freedom, was launched in 2006 to much fanfare at this same Marinette Marine shipyard. The second vessel (LCS-2), the USS Independence from General Dynamics, followed in 2008. But when the costs for the first two ships exceeded initial contract limits, the US Navy cancelled the contracts for the third and fourth ships in 2007. But in 2009, the US Navy renewed those contracts, paving the way for the completion of the USS Fort Worth. The fourth LCS, the USS Coronado, is scheduled for completion around May 2012.
[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]
[FIGURE 2 OMITTED]
The two LCS designs are somewhat different, with the Lockheed LCS using a high-speed monohull and the General Dynamics model equipped with a trimaran hull. Each design is capable of speeds exceeding 40 knots and long-range distances of more than 3500 miles. They are designed to launch and recover a variety of vehicles, featuring flight decks and hangers large enough for two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters as well as a wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). UAVs include the remotely piloted MQ-8 Fire Scout (Fig. 2) unmanned helicopter developed by Northrop Grumman (www.northropgrumman.com), which is ideal for targeting and reconnaissance missions. USVs include the Spartan Scout, about 23 feet in length complete with a compliment of sensors and a 0.50 caliber machine gun; it was developed for the US Navy through the combined efforts of Radix Marine (www.radixmarine.com), Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Co. (www.raytheon.com).
"It is an incredibly rewarding experience to see Fort Worth launch into the water--on time and on budget," says Orlando Carvalho, president of Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Sensors business. "The team's strong performance and hard work in bringing Fort Worth to this point illustrates our ability to meet the Navy's need for a class of affordable, multi-mission combatants."
"Serving as the USS Fort Worth's sponsor is one of the proudest moments in my career," says Granger. "This is just the beginning of a commitment I am making with everyone in Fort Worth to all who will sail on the ship over the course of her life."
The LCS vessels are designed to make use of launched remote surface and air vehicles and their host of sensors to detect threats at some distance from the ship. The agile LCS vessels are capable of close-to-shore maneuvers and are easy to reconfigure for different tasks, including intelligence and surveillance. They are faster than assault ships and minesweepers, and designed to provide similar functions when needed. By using the remotely controlled vehicles at some distance from the ship's hull, the crew is kept out of harm's way, and these remote vehicles can still perform functions normally associated with the mothership, including sonar sweeps for mines and launching torpedoes against hostile submarines.
WILLIAM WONG
TECHNOLOGY EDITOR
Wong, William
Source Citation
Wong, William. "Third littoral combat ship is launched: the controversial US Naval Littoral fleet employs extremely agile surface vehicles that make use of surface and air robotic 'extensions' for information-gathering and defensive functions." Electronic Design 10 Mar. 2011: S16. Gale Power Search. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.
Document URL
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA268869903&v=2.1&u=22054_acld&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w
Gale Document Number: GALE|A268869903
United States Judo Association - USJA 
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