The US Navy has accepted the delivery of the USS Beloit (LCS 29) from Lockheed Martin in collaboration with Fincantieri Marinette Marine, representing the 15th Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
With enhanced propulsion system corrections and a focus on coastal and open-ocean operations, the ship is expected to contribute to addressing naval threats.
Delivered on 30 September, 2024, Beloit becomes the 29th LCS in service. This milestone highlights the Navy’s ongoing efforts to expand its fleet of surface combatants capable of addressing 21st-century maritime threats.
Construction and timeline
Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine began construction on the USS Beloit in July 2020, with a keel-laying ceremony marking the occasion. The USS Beloit was ceremonially christened in May 2022.
Capt Matthew Lehmann, programme manager for the LCS programme, commended the team for meeting an aggressive delivery timeline, stating: “Beloit is another shining example of what it means to finish strong. Our industry partners stood up to the challenge to deliver this ship on an aggressive schedule. Beloit’s delivery is helping the Navy to put more players on the field.”
One of the updates to the Freedom-variant LCS is incorporating a combining gear correction, an enhancement that allows unrestricted operations. The improvement addresses a class-wide propulsion issue identified during early deployments of the Freedom-variant vessels.
This technical solution is seen as important as the US Navy increases the operational tempo of these ships in both near-shore and open-ocean environments.
The US Navy took delivery of its 12th Freedom-class LCS, the USS Cooperstown (LCS 23), on 20 September, 2022. The delivery followed the earlier acceptance of the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21), the 11th Freedom-class ship, which was delivered on 18 November, 2021, and the first in the class to receive the gear modification.
In August 2024, the US Department of Defense (DoD) awarded BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair a $26.2m contract modification for post-shakedown availability (PSA) work on the USS Beloit. The PSA will take place in Mayport, Florida, following a shakedown cruise to evaluate the ship’s systems, with completion anticipated by February 2026.
The same month, the USS Beloit underwent acceptance trials, a process in which the ship’s combat systems, propulsion, and electrical systems were tested to ensure operational readiness. The successful completion of these trials cleared the path for formal delivery.
The ship will now undergo final post-delivery certifications and crew qualifications before being commissioned later in the year, with its homeport set for Mayport, Florida.
Challenges facing the LCS programme
The USS Beloit is part of a scaled-back LCS programme that has faced challenges, including several decommissioned ships after short service lives.
The LCS class comprises two variants: Freedom and Independence. The Freedom-variant, built by a Lockheed Martin-led team, is characterised by its monohull design, while Austal USA leads the development of the trimaran-hulled Independence variant. Both designs are equipped with modular mission packages for mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare operations.
The Navy’s long-range shipbuilding plan now aims to maintain only ten Freedom-class LCSs and fifteen Independence-class LCSs in its fleet.
With the delivery of Beloit, the US Navy’s LCS programme is approaching its final Freedom-variant milestone: the completion of USS Cleveland (LCS 31), currently in its final stages of construction. Scheduled for delivery in 2025, Cleveland will mark the end of the Freedom-variant production line.
These ships are optimised for the type of asymmetric threats expected in future littoral environments, where traditional, larger vessels might face challenges.
