MARINETTE, Wis., Jan. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-led industry team launched the nation's 11th Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Sioux City, into the Menominee River at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) shipyard today.

The ship's sponsor, Mrs. Mary Winnefeld, christened Sioux City with the traditional smashing of a champagne bottle across the ship's bow just prior to the launch.

"It is an honor and a privilege to serve as the sponsor of the future USS Sioux City and to be a part of this major milestone along the way to her assuming her place as part of the great U.S. Navy fleet," said Mrs. Winnefeld. "I also look forward to an ongoing relationship with her courageous crews and their families throughout the ship's lifetime."

Following christening and launch, Sioux City will continue to undergo outfitting and testing before delivery to the Navy in early 2017.

"The future USS Sioux City's interchangeable mission modules will empower her to face a variety of high-priority missions, from Anti-Surface Warfare to Anti-Submarine Warfare to Mine Countermeasures," said Joe North, Lockheed Martin vice president of Littoral Ships & Systems. "She is ideally suited to navigate the reefs and shallows in the Asia-Pacific, as USS Fort Worth has demonstrated on her current 20-month deployment."

The Freedom-variant ships have demonstrated their value with successful deployments to Southeast Asia, including USS Fort Worth, which is providing the necessary capabilities for contingency operations in the region today. USS Freedom conducted a successful deployment to Southeast Asia in 2013 and is currently operating out of her homeport in San Diego.

"The Christening and Launch of the Sioux City (LCS 11) is a proud event for FMM," said Jan Allman, President and CEO of Fincantieri Marinette Marine. "It showcases the craftsmanship and engineering capabilities of our workforce. We are confident that this ship will play a vital role in the Fleet, and carry the spirit of our industry team as she sails the globe."

The Lockheed Martin-led industry team is currently in serial production of the Freedom-variant, and has already delivered three ships to the U.S. Navy to date. The Sioux City is one of seven ships in various stages of construction at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, with two more in long-lead production.

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that – with the addition of Sikorsky – employs approximately 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

About Fincantieri Marinette Marine
Founded in 1942, Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) is located on the Menominee River flowage into Green Bay. The largest shipyard in the Midwest, FMM has delivered more than 1,300 vessels to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and commercial customers, including the technologically advanced Littoral Combat Ship Freedom variant for the U.S. Navy. In 2008, FMM along with several sister shipyards also based in the Great Lakes region, became part of FINCANTIERI, one of the world's largest shipbuilding groups and number one by diversification and innovation, with almost 21,000 employees, of whom approximately 7,700 in Italy, 21 shipyards in 4 continents.  FINCANTIERI operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group, serving both civilian and government customers. Over the past five years, FINCANTIERI invested more than $100 million in both capital infrastructure and its resources to support FMM's transformation into what is now one of the best shipyards in the United States. Employing approximately 1,500 employees, today FMM is a state-of-the-art, full service new construction shipyard.

About Gibbs & Cox:
Gibbs & Cox, the nation's leading independent maritime solutions firm specializing in naval architecture, marine engineering and design, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The company, founded in 1929, has provided designs for nearly 80 percent of the current U.S. Navy surface combatant fleet; approaching 7,000 naval and commercial ships have been built to Gibbs & Cox designs.

For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin