Sistemas navales

Buque de combate litoral clase Freedom

Also known as
  • Freedom-class LCS
  • clase LCS-1

El buque de combate litoral clase Freedom es la variante LCS-1 de monocasco de acero de la U.S. Navy, construida por Lockheed Martin con Fincantieri Marinette Marine en Wisconsin para la guerra litoral modular. Durante la 2023 Red Sea Crisis, USS Indianapolis (LCS-17) operó en un grupo de acción de superficie enfrentado a misiles y drones hutíes y se convirtió en el primer LCS en recibir una Combat Action Ribbon.

Buque de combate litoral clase Freedom, Buque de combate litoral variante Freedom, Sistemas navales
Image source: Longest in the Fight - USS Indianapolis returns from deployment

Role in Conflicts

2023 Red Sea Crisis
Air DefenseElectronic WarfareForce Protection

USS Indianapolis (LCS-17), un buque de combate litoral de la variante Freedom, operó con destructores de la U.S. Navy durante un enfrentamiento en el mar Rojo en septiembre de 2024 contra misiles y drones hutíes, y luego recibió una actualización urgente del Surface-to-Surface Missile Module para capacidad contra UAS mientras estaba desplegado en avanzada.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Estados Unidos
Type
Buque de combate litoral variante Freedom
Service note
2008-presente
Designer
U.S. Navy / Lockheed Martin
Designed
2002
Produced
2002-2025; buque final de la variante Freedom comisionado en 2026
Number built
16 buques de la variante Freedom

Specifications

Eslora
118,1 m (387 ft)
Manga
17,6 m (57,7 ft)
Calado
4,3 m (14,1 ft)
Desplazamiento a plena carga
Aproximadamente 3.450 toneladas métricas
Casco y superestructura
Casco de acero con superestructura de aluminio
Propulsión
Sistema combinado diésel y turbina de gas con propulsión por chorros de agua orientables
Velocidad
Más de 40 nudos
Numeración de seaframe
La variante Freedom usa cascos LCS con numeración impar
Enfoque del paquete de misión
Paquete de misión Surface Warfare programado para la variante Freedom; paquete de contramedidas de minas programado para la variante Independence
Tripulación básica
40 marineros
Alojamiento
Hasta 75 marineros
Variants

La Navy divide la clase Littoral Combat Ship en dos variantes de seaframe. Esta entrada cubre la línea Freedom de monocasco con numeración impar; la variante Independence es la línea de trimarán de aluminio con numeración par.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Independence variantVariante de seaframe LCS con numeración par

Material oficial de la Navy y de DOT&E distingue la variante Independence de la variante Freedom por forma del casco, numeración, constructor y diseño de trimarán de aluminio.

Sources: Littoral Combat Ship Class - LCS, DOT&E FY2025 Annual Report - Navy - Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

Main Gun

USS Sioux City is photographed with the MK 110 aboard during maintenance in 2021.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
MK 110 57 mm Gun, 57 mm naval gun, Naval SystemsMK 110 57 mm Gun57 mm naval gun

The Navy photo caption shows sailors conducting maintenance on a 57mm MK 110 gun aboard USS Sioux City.

Sources: 210709-N-RL695-1119

Embarked Aircraft

USS Sioux City deployed with two embarked MH-60S Seahawk helicopters.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, Multi-mission maritime helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsMH-60S Sea Hawk helicopterShipborne helicopter

A Navy article on USS Sioux City's first Sixth Fleet deployment says the ship sailed with an embarked detachment of two MH-60S Seahawk helicopters.

Sources: LCS begins first deployment in Sixth Fleet

Shipboard Guns

The Freedom-class armament list includes the MK 46 Mod 2 30mm GWS on USS Sioux City.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
MK 46 Mod 2 30mm GWS, 30 mm remote gun system, Naval SystemsMK 46 Mod 2 30mm GWS30 mm remote gun system

USS Sioux City (LCS-11) is listed with two MK 46 Mod 2 30mm GWS mounts in its armament.

Sources: USS Sioux City historical evaluation

Missile Testing

USS Milwaukee fired AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles during developmental testing.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
AGM-114 Hellfire missile family, Air-to-surface missile family, MunitionsAGM-114 Hellfire missile familyAir-to-surface missile family

USS Milwaukee, a Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, fired four AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles during LCS missile module developmental testing.

Sources: USS Milwaukee fires missiles, kicks off LCS missile module developmental testing

Shipboard Air Defense

USS Sioux City is listed with one MK 31 RAM Launcher in its armament.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
MK 31 RAM Launcher, Surface-to-air missile launcher, Air DefenseMK 31 RAM LauncherSurface-to-air missile launcher

The 2025 naval historical evaluation lists one MK 31 RAM Launcher in Sioux City's armament.

Sources: USS Sioux City historical evaluation

Torpedo Armament

The USS Sioux City evaluation lists MK 50 Honeywell torpedoes in the ship's armament summary.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
MK 50 Honeywell torpedo, Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo, MunitionsMK 50 Honeywell torpedoLightweight anti-submarine torpedo

The evaluation lists MK 50 Honeywell torpedoes in USS Sioux City's armament summary.

Sources: USS Sioux City historical evaluation

Surface Warfare Mission Package

DOT&E describes the Surface Warfare mission package as scheduled to deploy only on the Freedom variant.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, Primary anti-submarine and surface warfare helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsMH-60R Seahawk helicopterShipborne helicopter

DOT&E lists an MH-60R helicopter among the Freedom-variant Surface Warfare mission package components.

Sources: DOT&E FY2025 Annual Report - Navy - Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

Timeline

Buque de combate litoral clase Freedom Key Events

  1. Lanzamiento del programa LCS

    La Navy dijo que el programa Littoral Combat Ship comenzó en 2002 como un impulso para contar con un buque de guerra litoral rápido, ágil y versátil con paquetes de misión modulares.

    Sources: Littoral Combat Ship Class - LCS

  2. USS Indianapolis responde durante un ataque en el mar Rojo

    TWZ informó sobre una citación de Combat Action Ribbon de la Navy que indicaba que USS Indianapolis operó con USS Stockdale y USS Spruance frente a Yemen mientras salvas de UAV y misiles hutíes apuntaban contra el grupo de acción de superficie.

    Sources: Littoral Combat Ship Can Now Rapidly Shoot Down Aerial Drones With Hellfire Missiles

  3. USS Indianapolis regresa del despliegue

    El USS Indianapolis de la variante Freedom regresó a Mayport después de un despliegue en las áreas de operaciones de la U.S. 5th Fleet, 6th Fleet y 2nd Fleet.

    Sources: Longest in the Fight - USS Indianapolis returns from deployment

  4. La Navy acelera la capacidad Hellfire contra drones

    TWZ informó que las amenazas hutíes en el mar Rojo llevaron a la Navy a acelerar la capacidad AGM-114L Hellfire contra drones para la fuerza LCS clase Freedom, con Indianapolis como primer buque actualizado.

    Sources: Littoral Combat Ship Can Now Rapidly Shoot Down Aerial Drones With Hellfire Missiles

  5. Comisionado el último LCS de la variante Freedom

    USS Cleveland (LCS-31), el 16.º y último buque de combate litoral de la variante Freedom, fue comisionado en Cleveland.

    Sources: USS Cleveland (LCS 31) Commissions in Namesake City

Media

Buque de combate litoral clase Freedom Videos

Buque de combate litoral clase Freedom Images

Buque de combate litoral clase Freedom, Buque de combate litoral variante Freedom, Sistemas navales - view 1
Source: Longest in the Fight - USS Indianapolis returns from deployment
Buque de combate litoral clase Freedom, Buque de combate litoral variante Freedom, Sistemas navales - view 2
Source: Longest in the Fight - USS Indianapolis returns from deployment
Buque de combate litoral clase Freedom, Buque de combate litoral variante Freedom, Sistemas navales - view 3
Source: Longest in the Fight - USS Indianapolis returns from deployment
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Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, Ship self-defense missile, MunitionsMunitionsEvolved Sea Sparrow MissileShip self-defense missileThe Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a NATO-cooperative ship self-defense missile family built by Raytheon for surface combatants and carrier self-defense. U.S. Navy, RTX, and NATO Seasparrow sources describe it as a medium-range guided weapon for anti-ship cruise missiles, aircraft, drones, and maneuvering surface threats; documented combat use includes USS Mason's 2016 Yemen self-defense engagement and Red Sea crisis firings against Houthi threats.

Sources

Littoral Combat Ship Class - LCSPublisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Supports the Freedom and Independence split, the Freedom variant's steel monohull design, Lockheed Martin/Fincantieri Marinette Marine construction context, and general class background. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) - Lockheed MartinPublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports Freedom-variant specifications including length, beam, draft, displacement, propulsion, and speed. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Longest in the Fight - USS Indianapolis returns from deploymentPublisher: U.S. Fleet Forces Command | Note: Supports USS Indianapolis deployment context and image provenance for the gallery set used on this page. | Accessed: 2026-07-04210709-N-RL695-1119Publisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Supports image provenance and the July 2021 USS Sioux City / MK 110 gun context used for the relationship section. | Accessed: 2026-07-04DOT&E FY2025 Annual Report - Navy - Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)Publisher: Director, Operational Test and Evaluation | Note: Supports Freedom/Independence seaframe identity, Freedom monohull construction details, propulsion description, and Freedom-variant Surface Warfare mission package components. | Accessed: 2026-07-04U.S. Navy Enhances LCS Surface Warfare Mission Package with Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System CapabilityPublisher: NAVSEA | Note: Supports delivery of counter-UAS capabilities to forward-deployed USS Indianapolis and the Fall 2024 software and hardware upgrade to the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Littoral Combat Ship Can Now Rapidly Shoot Down Aerial Drones With Hellfire MissilesPublisher: The War Zone | Note: 2023 Red Sea Crisis: direct reporting on USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) receiving a counter-drone AGM-114L Hellfire upgrade during its 2024 deployment, plus a Navy Combat Action Ribbon citation for Red Sea responses to Houthi UAV and missile threats. | Accessed: 2026-07-04USS Sioux City historical evaluationPublisher: NAVSEA | Note: Supports the documented fit of MK 50 Honeywell torpedoes, two MK 46 Mod 2 30mm GWS mounts, and one MK 31 RAM Launcher aboard USS Sioux City. | Accessed: 2026-07-04USS Cleveland (LCS 31) Commissions in Namesake CityPublisher: U.S. Fleet Forces Command | Note: Supports the May 16, 2026 commissioning of USS Cleveland as the 16th and final Freedom-variant LCS to be built and commissioned. | Accessed: 2026-07-04U.S. Navy Accepts Delivery of Final Freedom-Variant Littoral Combat Ship USS ClevelandPublisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Supports the Freedom-variant production run ending with 16 ships and the class's 2025 production completion. | Accessed: 2026-07-04LCS begins first deployment in Sixth FleetPublisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Supports USS Sioux City's deployment with an embarked detachment of two MH-60S Seahawk helicopters. | Accessed: 2026-07-04USS Milwaukee fires missiles, kicks off LCS missile module developmental testingPublisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Supports USS Milwaukee firing four AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles during LCS missile module developmental testing. | Accessed: 2026-07-04