Lockheed Martin and Blohm + Voss forged an agreement to work together in providing the U.S. Navy with a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) solution capable of meeting the stated
requirements of speed, range, payload, cost, capability, survivability
and supportability. The agreement, in the form of a memorandum of understanding, calls for a continuance of the relationship established
between both companies for the Navy's ongoing Ship Concept Studies. The scope of work to be performed consists of integrated modular designs for both onboard and off board systems as well as development of an advanced propulsion system for a Focused Mission Ship (FMS). The FMS is a
proposed ship design intended for the Navy as a tool to evaluate a range of technology options, particularly in the areas of design and
modularity, for an eventual LCS.
Carol Hulgus, Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems
(NE&SS) vice president and capture team leader for LCS, said "We
conducted a worldwide search for an industry leader that has
consistently utilized best practices and delivered on their commitments
to customers. Lockheed Martin and Blohm + Voss are committed to the
success of the LCS program and look forward to working together on this
revolutionary ship that will transform how the U.S. Navy fights in the
littorals."
LCS, a transformational new ship class for the Navy, will be expected to engage numerous threats in the littoral environment, the most
significant of which include diesel submarines, small boats engaging in
swarm warfare, and mines. A key element to the overall ship design will
be the development and integration of different modules, easily
interchanged with LCS, to address the various threats in the littorals.
Dale Bennett, Lockheed Martin NE&SS-Marine Systems vice president and general manager, stated "Blohm + Voss understood the need for modularity in ship design and integration as early as the 1970s, by developing
flexible mission modules that provide for ease of spiral upgrades to
systems over time. This approach to modular ship design resulted in the
extremely popular MEKO-class ships, found in 11 navies worldwide today."
Dr. Reinhard Mehl, Blohm + Voss
executive board member, believes his company's experience with the MEKO ships will be of critical importance
to LCS. "We have learned many lessons along the way in refining the MEKO design that we expect to be of great significance for our LCS
efforts, particularly in the areas of signature reduction, enhanced survivability, advanced propulsion systems, fully integrated warfare
systems based on an open system architecture, damage control and integrated monitoring and control systems. We look forward to
leveraging this experience with Lockheed Martin as we work together to provide the U.S. Navy with a very capable LCS solution."