06/17/2019- There was a definite Minnesota presence on Saturday as LCS 21, the future USS Minneapolis-St. Paul was christened and launched into the Menominee River at Fincantieri Marinette Marine.

A sizable contingent of guests and media made the trip from Minneapolis-St. Paul for the ceremony and launch. The ship’s sponsor who did the christening was Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Policy Jodi Greene, a Minnesota Native. The principal address was delivered by Congresswoman Betty McCollum whose district includes St. Paul.

It was the 11th of the Freedom Class ships to be launched at the shipyard. Marinette Marine has delivered eight LCS’s to the Navy, and eight others are in various stages of production and test.

Joe DePietro, Vice President Small Combants and Ship Systems for Lockheed Martin says Lockheed Martin will be supporting Finantieri with their entry in the competition to build the next generation Navy Frigate. Lockheed Martin also had submitted a design based upon the Freedom Class LCS, but withdrew that design from the competition in May, leaving Fincantieri and three other competitors.