General Dynamics Team
Trimaran LCS Design
(click to enlarge)

Bath Iron Works in Bath, ME has received a $16 million cost-plus-fixed-fee option to previously awarded contract (N00024-03-C-2310) for the advance procurement of required Long Lead Material for the first “Flight Zero” models of General Dynamics’ trimaran Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) design. Work will be performed in Bath, ME and is expected to be complete September 2005. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC issued the contract.

The LCS is the U.S. Navy’s newest surface combatant, a member of the DD (X) family optimized for shallow seas and near-shore operations but able to deploy across the ocean. LCS will help to counter growing potential “asymmetric” threats like coastal mines, quiet diesel submarines and the potential to carry explosives and terrorists on small, fast, attack boats. It will also perform intelligence gathering and scouting via helicopter landing and UAV capabilities, and will share tactical information with other Navy aircraft, ships, submarines, and joint units. Swappable “mission modules” will give the small ships the specialized capabilities they need to perform some of these roles.

DID has created a new article that holds all of its in-depth and future coverage of the LCS program. It expands considerably on the material that was originally presented here.