Lockheed submits proposal for Littoral Combat Ship to US Navy

The Lockheed Martin led industry team submitted its proposal for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) fiscal year 2010 contract to the U.S. Navy on July 31. The Program Executive Office, Ships, is expected to award a contract this coming fiscal year for additional Littoral Combat Ships. The U.S. Navy is proceeding with a limited competition with winners of the Flight 0 phase of the program, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics. "Lockheed Martin's proposal builds off our successful delivery of LCS 1 and current construction efforts on LCS 3 to more efficiently produce this new class of warship," said Dan Schultz, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors. "We have taken significant steps to reduce the number of labor hours required to build the ship, including streamlining production processes by working with lean manufacturing experts from across Lockheed Martin, Fincantieri and Bollinger". He added, "Lockheed Martin is committed to providing the Navy with an LCS that will maximize its ability to meet its 21st century mission and we are optimistic that further cost reductions are possible as LCS enters serial production".