The U.S. Navy celebrated the delivery of the future USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21) at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard on November 18. The future USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul is the 11th Freedom-variant LCS designed by the Lockheed Martin-led industry team at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. Delivery marks the official transfer of the ship from the shipbuilder, part of a Lockheed Martin-led team, to the U.S. Navy. LCS 21 was accepted after rigorous testing of a combination of systems that will allow for unrestricted operations, adding to the fleet’s growing numbers. LCS 21 is the first Freedom-variant ship to receive the flag.

The future USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul is the second naval ship to honor Minnesota’s Twin Cities, with each city having been honored twice before. The first U.S. Navy warship named Minneapolis-Saint Paul was a Los Angeles-class submarine launched in 1983, which took part in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (SSN 708) was the first submarine to carry Tomahawk missiles specifically designed for strikes against Iraqi targets during the Gulf War. Having served for over two decades with distinction, the submarine Minneapolis-Saint Paul was decommissioned in 2007.

Lockheed Martin-led shipbuilding team launched the Little Combahee (LCS) 21, the future USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, into the Menominee River at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Shipyard.

“Today marks a significant shipbuilding milestone for the future USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, an exceptional ship that will conduct operations around the globe,” said LCS program manager Capt. Mike Taylor. “I look forward to seeing Minneapolis-Saint Paul join her sister ships with 100 percent of propulsion power available for unrestricted use.”

Several more Freedom-variant ships are under construction at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. Pending successful at-sea testing of its combat system, Cooperstown (LCS 23) is planned for delivery in January 2022. Additional ships in various stages of production include Marinette (LCS 25), Nantucket (LCS 27), Beloit (LCS 29), and Cleveland (LCS 31). The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, while capable of open-ocean tasking. The LCS is a key element in the U.S. Navy’s support for overseas contingency operations, maritime security, and counter-piracy missions.