Israel Takes Interest in Lockheed Martin LCS

The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a foreign military sales (FMS) contract valued at nearly $5.2 million to conduct a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) feasibility study for the Israeli Navy. Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will examine possible modifications to its LCS design to meet specific Israeli naval requirements. Lockheed Martin is currently building the first LCS for the U.S. Navy.

During the nine-month feasibility study, Lockheed Martin will examine its current LCS design for hull, mechanical and electrical system compatibility with the Israeli Navy's combat systems and other requirements.

The successful completion of this study could lead to follow-on contracts to design and build one or two ships for the Israeli Navy. Construction of these ships would occur at Marinette Marine and Bollinger Shipyards in the United States. Several other countries also have expressed interest in Lockheed Martin's LCS design concept.

The first LCS for the U.S. Navy, Freedom (LCS 1), is currently under construction at Marinette Marine in Marinette, WI. Freedom, to be homeported in San Diego, will launch in the summer of 2006 and be delivered in 2007.

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