The U.S. government recently awarded Lockheed Martin a $450 million contract to design and plan construction of four Multi-Mission Surface Combatants (MMSC) for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The awarded Undefinitized Contract Action (UCA) agreement will be built at Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin.
“We are pleased the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has selected the Multi-Mission Surface Combatant to support its Royal Saudi Naval Forces fleet,” Joe DePietro, vice president of Lockheed’s Small Combatants and Ship Systems, said. “The MMSC provides the Royal Saudi Naval Forces a lethal and highly maneuverable multi-mission surface combatant, which features the flexibility of the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship steel mono-hull with expanded capabilities.”
DePietro said the features include an integrated Mk41 Vertical Launch System, an increased range of 5,000 nautical miles and speeds more than 30 knots, making the apparatus capable of littoral and open ocean operation and able to confront modern maritime and economic security threats.
With proven combat management system lineage, officials said Lockheed Martin’s MMSC has the interoperability necessary for today’s joint and allied naval force maneuvers.
In March, Lockheed Martin was awarded $481 million for long lead material for MMSC. The contract award of the MMSC is considered a significant milestone in the relationship between Lockheed Martin and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Lockheed Martin values our 50-year partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is committed to helping fulfill the Kingdom’s long-term vision,” Richard H. Edwards, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin International, said. “Through investment in IT infrastructure, training, tooling, equipment and enhanced collaboration with KSA industry, we will increase the capacity of the Kingdom’s economy while creating sustainable jobs for a brighter future.”