Press Release Of The Week

USS Cooperstown

Passes Its Final Exam

Editor’s Note: This press release arrived Monday, Dec. 14, from Lockheed Martin Corp. spokesman Kate Scruggs.

MARINETTE, Wisc.

Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 23, the future USS Cooperstown, completed acceptance trials in Lake Michigan. Trials included a full-power run, maneuverability testing, and surface and air detect-to-engage demonstrations of the ship’s combat system. Major systems and features were demonstrated, including aviation support, small boat launch handling and recovery and machinery control and automation.

Now that trials are complete, the ship will undergo final outfitting and fine-tuning before delivery to the U.S. Navy next year. LCS 23 is the 12th Freedom-variant LCS designed and built by the Lockheed Martin-led industry team.

“LCS 23, like other Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships, delivers unique flexibility and capability to the U.S. Navy,” said Joe DePietro, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager, Small Combatants and Ship Systems.

“Freedom-variant LCS are inherently capable, and they offer 40-percent reconfigurable hull space to evolve to future U.S. Navy missions.

“During acceptance trials, LCS 23 proved its maneuverability, automation and core combat capability.”

Unique among combat ships, the focused-mission LCS is designed to support mine countermeasures, anti-submarine and surface warfare missions and is easily adapted to serve future and evolving missions.