US Navy conducts maritime security operations in the Caribbean with littoral combat ships and destroyers

The U.S. Navy Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Detroit (LCS 7) with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Farragut (DDG 99) conducts maritime security operations in the Caribbean. The naval forces are deployed to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility.


The U.S. Navy Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Detroit (LCS 7) with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Farragut (DDG 99) conducts maritime security operations in the Caribbean. The naval forces are deployed to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility.
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US Navy conducts maritime security operations in the Caribbean with littoral combat ships and destroyers 925 001 The Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Detroit (LCS 7) sails in formation with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Farragut (DDG 99) while conducting maritime security operations in the Caribbean, May 11, 1020. (Picture source U.S. Navy)


The SOUTHCOM (U.S. Southern Command) is responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation in its assigned Area of Responsibility which includes Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The command is also responsible for the force protection of U.S. military resources at these locations. SOUTHCOM is also responsible for ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal.

The SOUTHCOM is a joint command comprised of more than 1,200 military and civilian personnel representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and several other federal agencies. The services provide SOUTHCOM with component commands which, along with our Joint Special Operations component, two Joint Task Forces, one Joint Interagency Task Force, and Security Cooperation Organizations, perform SOUTHCOM missions and security cooperation activities.

 The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers (DDGs) is a United States Navy class of destroyer built around the Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multifunction passive electronically scanned array radar. 

The Arleigh Burke class was designed with an all-new hull form, incorporating much of the Spruance class (DD 963) destroyer propulsion and machinery plant, and the integrated Aegis Weapons System (AWS) proven on the Kidd class (DD 993) destroyers and installed on the larger Ticonderoga class cruisers. AWS is composed of a multi-function phased array radar, advanced AAW and ASW systems, VLS, and the Tomahawk Weapon System. DDG 51 was commissioned on July 4, 1991, and the class is still in production. The class has been continuously upgraded with advanced sensors and weapons and improved support systems.

The Freedom class is one of two classes of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, built for the United States Navy. The LCS class consists of two variants, the Freedom variant and the Independence variant, designed and built by two industry teams. The Freedom-variant team is led by Lockheed Martin (for the odd-numbered hulls, e.g. LCS 1). It is a steel monohull design constructed by Lockheed Martin in the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Corporation's shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin.

The mission systems of Freedom class include COMBATSS-21 combat management system, automated radio room and an open architecture total ship computing environment. The armament and combat suite consist of TRS-4D Air Search Radar, SeaRAM (r) medium caliber 57 mm Mk 110 gun, gunfire control system and decoy launching system.