Three landing craft air cushion vehicles assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 approach the shore after launching from the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) during Bright Star 2009 exercise. The biennial, multinational exercise is conducted by U.S. Central Command and involves U.S., Egyptian and other coalition forces. The Navy is currently evaluating the alternatives for replacing or extending the life of these amphibious landing crafts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson )

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Japan Completes Testing of Missile Defense Destroyer
France Orders 3 FREMM Multi-Mission Frigates
Textron, L-3 Com Team for LCAC Successor Program
Navy Accelerates LCS Fielding Schedule
Lockheed Martin Awarded Over $1Bn for AEGIS BMD

U.S. Navy Plans to Accelerates Fielding of Littoral Combat Ships

The Lockheed Martin built Freedom class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS-1) is already in service, and could be deployed for its first mission as early as next year (early 2010) – two years ahead of its scheduled maiden deployment. The second vessel, USS Independence has completed builders sea trials last week and is awaiting inspection by the customer, prior to handover to the U.S. Navy. (read more...)

Lockheed Martin Awarded Over $1B for AEGIS BMD

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency awarded Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors over one billion US$ for continued development and engineering of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Combat System over the next five years.

Textron, L-3 Com Team for LCAC Successor Program

Textron Marine & Land Systems has teamed with L-3 Communications to pursue the U.S. Navy’s future $4 billion Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) program. The Navy is planning to field the 73 ton Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV), starting in the year 2019, gradually replacing the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) hovercraft landing-craft currently in service. (read more...)

Textron Systems is also working on an amphibious vessel design much larger than LCAC, called T-Craft, designed to deliver prepositioned military vehicles from sea bases to an operational area.

France Orders 3 FREMM Multi-Mission Frigates

The French shipbuilding company DCNS has signed a contract with the French ministry of defense confirming the continued construction of three additional FREMM multi-mission frigates, bringing France's total order of such vessels to 11 (six below he original goal of 17). The three vessels will be delivered between 2012 and 2011. Two of the ships will be configured as air-defense frigates. Under the new contract, DCNS will also provide upgrading of sensors for air, surface and sub-surface. France has recently celebrated the launch of the second multi-mission frigate of this class, the Normandie. Italy has plans to construct 10 additional FREMM frigates. Each vessel carries the Herakles multifunction radar, MU90 torpedoes, Aster air defense missiles and Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles.

Japan Completes Testing of Missile Defense Destroyer

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA) performed the third and final missile intercept test from the new Japanese destroyer JS Myoko. Before returning to Japan, the vessel will be loaded with a full complement of SM-3 Block IA missiles, extending Japan missile defense capability with the new sea-based system. (read more...)