Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Design fix halts Freedom LCS

WASHINGTON - The Navy has stopped the deliveries of Lockheed Martin’s Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship citing a design flaw with the ship’s transmission. In releasing a statement of the decision, the Navy pointed to “a material defect” with the ship’s combining gear that transmits power generated by the ship’s engines to its waterjet propulsion system. Additionally, the Navy said it is working to design a fix for in-service Freedom LCS while holding off on taking delivery of newer ships. The Freedom class LCS was designed by Lockheed Martin and built by Fincantieri’s Marinette (Wis.) Marine shipyard. The combining gear with the defect was designed by the German firm RENK AG. The fix may take months to install on each ship, according to a senior Navy official who spoke on condition of anonymity. (Source: Defense News 01/19/21) Gulf Coast Note: The Independence-class LCS is built by Austal USA's shipyard in Mobile, Ala.

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