Lockheed Martin to Begin Detail Design of Multi-Mission Ships for Saudi Arabia

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $282,085,646 contract modification for long-lead-time material and detail design in support of the construction of four Multi-Mission Surface Combatant ships (MMSC) for Saudi Arabia.

This contract involves foreign military sales to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Work will be performed in various places in the US and is expected to be completed by October 2025, a US DoD announcement said Friday.

In November 2017, the Pentagon awarded a contract to modify the design of the existing Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship class for a more heavily armed, “Multi-mission Surface Combatant.” The MMSC is a lethal and highly maneuverable surface combatant capable of littoral and open-ocean operation.

The new frigates costing $6 billion will become part of the Saudi Naval Expansion Program II. SNEP II is set to modernize the Royal Saudi Navy’s Eastern Fleet as part of a estimated $20 billion arms package announced during President Trump’s visit to Riyadh last year.

Saudi Arabia took delivery of MH-60R helicopter earlier this year which can be based on the MMSC for anti-submarine and naval reconnaissance operations.