The Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) fleet continues to grow, having just added its eleventh member. Commissioning of the speedy USS Sioux City took place at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. on Nov 17. These high-speed, versatile warships are designed to patrol close to shore and have proven their value to surveillance and reconnaissance missions previously during deployment in Southeast Asia. Northrop Grumman has been a major supplier for both variants of the LCS ship, Freedom and Independence, since the first keel was laid in 2005.
Northrop Grumman has established a solid 13-year partnership with the U. S. Navy Program Executive Office (PEO) Littoral Combat Ship, which was renamed PEO Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO-USC) earlier this year. The company supports the commissioning of the USS Sioux City as a “Captain Level” sponsor and mission package integrator for the LCS. Mission-enabling technologies for the LCS fleet include the Northrop Grumman LCS Modular Mission Package, Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS), and Fire Scout autonomous unmanned aerial system (UAS). These are modular systems that equip the LCS to perform mine countermeasures, surface warfare operations, and anti-submarine warfare operations.
“The commissioning of USS Sioux City marks the start of this ship’s service to the nation,” said Todd Leavitt, vice president, maritime systems, Northrop Grumman. “It is also an important occasion for us to honor the men and women of industry who built this vessel, as well as the servicemen and servicewomen who will operate this ship around the world. Northrop Grumman is committed to providing the U.S. Navy with the very best, from mission modules to mine countermeasures, bridge and navigation systems, ammunition and ordnance, autonomous airborne and underwater vehicles, training and sustainment services.”
