The nation's first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS 1) � the inaugural ship in an entirely new class of U.S. Navy surface warships � underway for the first time during day one of the ship's Builders Trials.

MARINETTE, Wis. (Jul. 28, 2008) The nation's first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS 1) the inaugural ship in an entirely new class of U.S. Navy surface warships underway for the first time during day one of the ship's Builders Trials. The agile 377-foot Freedom -- designed and built by a team led by Lockheed Martin -- will help the U.S. Navy defeat growing littoral, or close-to-shore, threats and provide access and dominance in coastal water battle-space. Displacing 3,000 metric tons and with a capability of reaching speeds well over 40 knots, Freedom will be a fast, maneuverable and networked surface combatant with operational flexibility to execute focused missions, such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and humanitarian relief. Photo provided courtesy Lockheed Martin File# 080728-O-XXXXX-003