Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems has been awarded a $99m contract to modernise the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) integrated tactical trainers (ITTs).
The contract will provide necessary lethality and survivability modernisation to the LCS ITTs, ensuring that the fleet is trained on devices aligned with the LCS ship functionality for both the freedom and independence variants for the US Navy. The US Navy established a Littoral Combat Ship Training Facility onboard Naval Station Mayport.
The contract includes trainer hardware and software technical refreshes. The contractor performed technical support, cybersecurity, software design and development to the fielded LCS ITT systems, and trainer installation. The work will be carried out in San Diego, California; Mayport, Florida; and Orlando, Florida, with completion expected in January 2029.
Modernising the LCS ITTs is a decisive development for the US Navy as it prepares to face new and emerging threats. The enhanced ITTs will provide more realistic and practical training for the crews, ensuring they are better prepared for combat situations. The modernisation will also help maintain the readiness and effectiveness of the Navy’s fleet.
According to GlobaData’s “US Armed Forces Inventory – Equipment Inventory 2022“, the US Navy owns 14 LCS Independence– and 11 LCS Freedom-class vessels, with the Independence variant being the larger ship.
This contract was granted to Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems on a non-competitive basis. The contracting activity is the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida.
Modernising the LCS ITTs is part of the Navy’s ongoing efforts to maintain and improve its capabilities. The latest Littoral Combat Ship to be christened was the USS Kingsville in April this year.
As the work on the contract is expected to be completed in January 2029, we can expect to see further developments in this area in the coming years. Modernising the LCS ITTs represents a step forward for the US Navy.
