Naval Systems

Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship

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

The Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship is the U.S. Navy's steel monohull LCS-1 variant, built by Lockheed Martin with Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin for modular littoral warfare. During the 2023 Red Sea Crisis, USS Indianapolis (LCS-17) operated in a surface action group facing Houthi missiles and drones and became the first LCS to receive a Combat Action Ribbon.

Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, Naval Systems
Image source: Longest in the Fight - USS Indianapolis returns from deployment

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
Freedom-variant littoral combat ship
Service note
2008-present
Designer
U.S. Navy / Lockheed Martin
Designed
2002
Produced
2002-2025; final Freedom-variant ship commissioned in 2026
Number built
16 Freedom-variant ships

Specifications

Length
118.1 m (387 ft)
Beam
17.6 m (57.7 ft)
Draft
4.3 m (14.1 ft)
Full load displacement
Approximately 3,450 metric tons
Hull and deckhouse
Steel hull with aluminum deckhouse
Propulsion
Combined diesel and gas turbine with steerable water jet propulsion
Speed
Greater than 40 knots
Seaframe numbering
Freedom variant uses odd-numbered LCS hulls
Mission package focus
Surface Warfare mission package scheduled for Freedom variant; mine countermeasures package scheduled for Independence variant
Core crew
40 sailors
Accommodation
Up to 75 sailors
Variants

The Navy divides the Littoral Combat Ship class into two seaframe variants. This entry covers the odd-numbered Freedom monohull line; the Independence variant is the even-numbered aluminum trimaran line.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Independence variantEven-numbered LCS seaframe variant

Official Navy and DOT&E material distinguish the Independence variant from the Freedom variant by hull form, numbering, builder, and aluminum trimaran design.

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

Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship Key Events

  1. LCS program launched

    The Navy said the Littoral Combat Ship program began in 2002 as a push for a fast, agile, and versatile littoral warship with modular mission packages.

    Sources: Littoral Combat Ship Class - LCS

  2. USS Indianapolis responds during Red Sea attack

    TWZ reported a Navy Combat Action Ribbon citation stating that USS Indianapolis operated with USS Stockdale and USS Spruance off Yemen as salvos of Houthi UAVs and missiles targeted the surface action group.

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

  3. USS Indianapolis returns from deployment

    The Freedom-variant USS Indianapolis returned to Mayport after a deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet, 6th Fleet, and 2nd Fleet areas of operations.

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

  4. Navy rushes counter-drone Hellfire capability

    TWZ reported that Houthi threats in the Red Sea prompted the Navy to rush counter-drone AGM-114L Hellfire capability to the Freedom-class LCS force, with Indianapolis as the first ship upgraded.

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

  5. Final Freedom-variant LCS commissioned

    USS Cleveland (LCS-31), the 16th and final Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, was commissioned in Cleveland.

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

Media

Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship Videos

Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship Images

Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: Longest in the Fight - USS Indianapolis returns from deployment
Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: Longest in the Fight - USS Indianapolis returns from deployment
Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, Naval Systems - view 3
Source: Longest in the Fight - USS Indianapolis returns from deployment
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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