Fairbanks Morse wins contract to support diesel engines of Freedom class LCS.

According to a PR published by Fairbanks Morse on January 27, 2023, Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, has been awarded a five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) requirements contract by the U.S. Navy.
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Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul. (Picture source: Dvids)

The agreement makes FMD the sole source for engineering and technical support of the main propulsion diesel engines on the Navy’s Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program.

FMD will provide global maintenance and repair services and OEM parts to improve engine performance and increase operational availability. Additionally, the defense contractor’s Factory-Certified technicians will conduct essential training so that Navy sailors are also equipped to support emergent repair needs for these critical pieces of equipment.

The U.S. Navy has turned to FMD for a full array of marine technologies and ship service systems for nearly 100 years. Approximately 80% of U.S. Navy ships with a medium-speed power application are powered by Fairbanks Morse Defense.

About the Freedom class

The Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a semi-planing steel monohull vessel with an aluminum superstructure. It is 377 feet (115 meters) in length, displaces 3,500 metric tons, and can reach a top speed of 47 knots (87 km/h; 54 mph).

One of the defining features of the Freedom-class is its large and reconfigurable seaframe which allows for the rapid interchange of mission modules. Additionally, the ship is equipped with a flight deck that includes an integrated helicopter launch, recovery, and handling system. The LCS also has the capability to launch and recover boats (manned and unmanned) from both the stern and side.

One of the main armaments of the ship is a 57 mm main gun which can be used for both surface and air defense and is capable of firing up to 220 rounds per minute at a range of up to 9 miles (15km).