The US Government has awarded a new $450m contract to Lockheed Martin for the production of multi-mission surface combatants (MMSC) for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Lockheed Martin will be responsible for carrying out detailed design and planning works for the construction of four MMSCs under the undefinitised contract action (UCA) award.

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The surface combatants will be constructed at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin.

"The deal will see Saudi Arabia acquire four surface combatants as part of a larger agreement with the US to improve global security and support economic progress."

Lockheed Martin Small Combatants and Ship Systems vice-president Joe DePietro said: “We are pleased the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has selected the MMSC to support its Royal Saudi Naval Forces fleet.

“The MMSC provides the Royal Saudi Naval Forces a lethal and highly manoeuvrable multi-mission surface combatant, which features the flexibility of the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship steel mono-hull with expanded capabilities that include an integrated Mk41 Vertical Launch System, an increased range of 5,000nm and speeds in excess of 30k, making it capable of littoral and open-ocean operation, and able to confront modern maritime and economic security threats.”

The deal will see Saudi Arabia acquire four surface combatants as part of a larger agreement with the US to improve global security and support economic progress.

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MMSC units are equipped with the COMBATSS-21 combat management system, which was built from the Aegis Combat System Common Source Library and enables anti-air and anti-surface capabilities within a small surface combatant platform.

The Lockheed Martin-led team also comprises shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine and naval architecture firm Gibbs & Cox, along with more than 800 suppliers across 42 US states.

Lockheed Martin previously secured a $481m award for the delivery of long-lead material for the MMSCs in March.

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