This website uses cookies to manage authentication, navigation, and other functions. By using our website, you agree that we can place these types of cookies on your device.
Independence class LCS Littoral Combat Ship USS Independence LCS 2 USS Coronado LCS 4 USS Jackson LCS 6 USS Montgomery LCS 8 USS Gabrielle Giffords LCS 10 USS Omaha LCS 12 US Navy General Dynamics Austal datasheet pictures photos video specifications
The
Independence class of littoral combat ships (LCS) is General Dynamics
and Austal's design proposal to the US Navy's requirement for the LCS
class ships. The LCS concept emphasizes speed and modularity thanks
to its flexible mission module spaces. According to US Navy, the LCS
is "envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant
capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals."
The hull design evolved from a project at Austal to design a 40 knot
cruise ship. That hull design evolved into the high-speed trimaran ferry
Benchijigua Express. The principal requirements of that project were
speed, stability and passenger comfort and Austal's team determined
that the trimaran hull form offered significant passenger comfort and
stability advantages over both catamaran and monohull designs. General
Dynamics and Austal's Littoral Combat Ship trimaran hull vastly improves
performance on a wide range of sea conditions enabling extended warfighting
availability to the U.S. Navy. The slender center hull and two smaller
side hulls gives the smaller ship the operational characteristics of
a larger craft providing greater stability in rough seas and combat
conditions.
Further improving
performance, the aluminum structure and selective use of steel provides
huge advantages of stability and buoyancy, improved damage protection,
reduced magnetic signature (quieter operations) and significant increases
in the ship's usable interior space compared to a monohull design.
The General Dynamics LCS has the endurance to travel 4,300 miles and
18 knots.
The Independence
class LCS design has the performance to bring more warfighting capability
to the mission front. Modular launch systems and an extended flight
deck provide maximum flexibility and enable rapid deployment of UAV,
sensors and mission personnel.
The LCS-2 design solution has the speed and capacity to traverse the
changing seas of today's asymmetric threats:
Capacity for
any two mission packages simultaneously
Three weapon
zones
The head of class,
USS Independence (LCS-2) was laid down in January 2006 and commissioned
four years later. Second ship of the Freedom class, USS Coronado (LCS-4)
was laid down in December 2009.
In total, ten Independence class LCS are to be built until 2015.
Shiplist
Name
Hull
Number
USS
Independence
LCS
2
USS
Coronado
LCS
4
USS
Jackson
LCS
6
USS
Montgomery
LCS
8
USS
Gabrielle Giffords
LCS
10
USS
Omaha
LCS
12
Variants
General
Dynamics Multi-Mission Combatant: Export variant with optional
Missile Vertical Launch System (up to 32 silos), Anti-ship missiles,
Torpedo tubes, custom systems depending on customer requirements.
Hull
and superstructure made of aluminium alloy.
Trimaran hull offering significant crew comfort and vessel stability.
Large flight deck can operate two SH-60 simultaneously or multiple UAV
or can operate H-53.
Modular mission bay can be reconfigured for various roles by changing
mission modules.
Hability to carry several armored vehicles in mission bay if empty of
modules (15,200 square feet or 1,410 m2)
Weapons
Anti-ship
missiles:
3x weapons modules
Anti-air missiles:
1x Raytheon SeaRAM system (11x RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles)
Guns:
BAE Systems Mk 110 57 mm (main gun)
2x Mk44 Bushmaster II 30mm guns
4x .50-cal machine guns
Sensors,
Electronics and Decoys
SAAB Sea GIRAFFE
3D air and surface search radar
Sperry Marine
BridgeMaster E navigational radar
AN/KAX-2 electro-optical
sensor with TV and FLIR
Thales Captas
4249 low frequency active variable depth sonar (LFA-VDS)
090702-N-XXXXG-006
GULF OF MEXICO (July 2, 2009) The littoral combat ship Independence (LCS 2) underway during builder's trials. Builder's trials are the first opportunity for the shipbuilder and the U.S. Navy to operate the ship underway, and provide an opportunity to test and correct issues before acceptance trials. (Photo courtesy Dennis Griggs General Dynamics/Released)
090712-N-0000G-007
GULF OF MEXICO (July 12, 2009) The littoral combat ship Independence (LCS 2) underway during builder's trials. Builder's trials are the first opportunity for the shipbuilder and the U.S. Navy to operate the ship underway, and provide an opportunity to test and correct issues before acceptance trials. (Photo courtesy Dennis Griggs General Dynamics/Released)
090712-N-0000G-001
GULF OF MEXICO (July 12, 2009) The littoral combat ship Independence (LCS 2) underway during builder's trials. Builder's trials are the first opportunity for the shipbuilder and the U.S. Navy to operate the ship underway, and provide an opportunity to test and correct issues before acceptance trials. (Photo courtesy Dennis Griggs General Dynamics/Released)
090712-N-0000G-003
GULF OF MEXICO (July 12, 2009) The littoral combat ship Independence (LCS 2) underway during builder's trials. Builder's trials are the first opportunity for the shipbuilder and the U.S. Navy to operate the ship underway, and provide an opportunity to test and correct issues before acceptance trials. (Photo courtesy Dennis Griggs General Dynamics/Released)
090712-N-0000G-004
GULF OF MEXICO (July 12, 2009) The littoral combat ship Independence (LCS 2) underway during builder's trials. Builder's trials are the first opportunity for the shipbuilder and the U.S. Navy to operate the ship underway, and provide an opportunity to test and correct issues before acceptance trials. (Photo courtesy Dennis Griggs General Dynamics/Released)
090712-N-0000G-005
GULF OF MEXICO (July 12, 2009) The littoral combat ship Independence (LCS 2) underway during builder's trials. Builder's trials are the first opportunity for the shipbuilder and the U.S. Navy to operate the ship underway, and provide an opportunity to test and correct issues before acceptance trials. (Photo courtesy Dennis Griggs General Dynamics/Released)
090712-N-0000G-006
GULF OF MEXICO (July 12, 2009) The littoral combat ship Independence (LCS 2) underway during builder's trials. Builder's trials are the first opportunity for the shipbuilder and the U.S. Navy to operate the ship underway, and provide an opportunity to test and correct issues before acceptance trials. (Photo courtesy Dennis Griggs General Dynamics/Released)