ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, the USA (BulgarianMilitary.com) – The global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, the USA, announced during the weekend that the United States Navy commissioned the sixth U.S. Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS),USS Sioux City (LCS 11), at the United States Naval Academy on 17th November 2018, learned BulgarianMilitary.com

That move places the ship, built by Lockheed Martin, into active service.

Read more: The US Navy Received Littoral Combat Ships 11 (Sioux City) and 13 (Wichita)

Joe DePietro, the Vice President, Small Combatants and Ship Systems, at Lockheed Martin, commented, “We are confident that LCS 11 will be what the Navy needs, when the fleet needs it. We remain focused on delivering these ships as quickly as possible with increasing capability and lethality. These ships will have a long lifespan, and we are working with the Navy to make LCS even stronger and more resilient.”

The Freedom-variant LCS features new technology and capability to support current and future missions conducted from deep water to the littorals. It is developed to integrate modular weapons, including unmanned and manned vehicles so that to deliver the important warfighting capability to the fleet in mine counter measures, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. LCS 11 is designed so that to support surface warfare.

Read more: The Newest Independence Variant Littoral Combat Ship Named by Secretary of the Navy

The capability of Littoral Combat Ships has been continuously increased over the years. This year, LCS 5 and 7 completed Longbow Hellfire missile testing, LCS 9 completed RAM testing and LCS 5 and 9 took part in Fleet Weeks around the USA.

The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John Richardson, said, “LCS is our most effective fleet asset to counter asymmetric small craft threats. This ship and the ships like her are going to complicate any adversary’s operating picture. You are going to need to keep track of Sioux City when she is at sea, because if you do not, she is going to make you pay for that.”

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Source: Lockheed Martin