Lockheed Martin recently delivered the U.S. Navy's first fully-integrated, shore-based trainer for Sailors who will crew the Navy's future fleet of Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) at the San Diego Naval Base.

The Future Surface Combatant-Scalable Shore Based Trainer (FSC-SSBT) was designed specifically to support the special needs of the LCS, a new class of shallow-water surface combatant designed to be forward deployed the majority of its lifecycle. The FSC-SSBT will allow the crew of Freedom (LCS 1) and any additional Lockheed Martin-designed LCSs to undertake high-fidelity, realistic shipboard bridge, combat system and engineering duties -- in an integrated training environment -- long before they actually board the ship. The first Freedom crew members began training at the facility in early May.

The FSC-SSBT supports the Navy's LCS Concept of Operations through the reuse of shipboard software, integrated simulations, virtual environments and commercially available hardware. The facility's bridge simulator will allow the crew to virtually drive the LCS and perform specialized scenarios and maneuvers. The mission control center component of the training facility -- which is the actual size of the center on the ship -- will allow Sailors to use operational software from COMBATSS-21, the ship's combat management system.

The FSC-SSBT also supports the Navy's Blue and Gold crew manning concept, allowing for one crew to be trained while the other is deployed and operational. Pre-familiarized with the training facility's realistic LCS environment, shipboard crews can spend more time focused on operational events versus training.

In June 2006, the Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $6 million contract to build the trainer within an 11 month period. Lockheed Martin delivered the FSC-SSBT to the Navy ahead of schedule on April 27 and approximately $300,000 under budget.

"The trainer provides a new training capability and construct for the U.S. Navy and the LCS program, supporting the Fleet Response Plan to help keep the warfighter fully trained and ready for operational deployment on a moment's notice," said Dan Schultz, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Littoral Ships & Systems business.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin