Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC)

The Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) is the export frigate derivative of the US Navy’s Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, developed by Lockheed Martin for foreign military sales. The lead order was for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces under the Saudi Naval Expansion Program II; four ships were contracted from 2017. The MMSC adds combat depth the parent LCS lacked: the COMBATSS-21 combat system, an 8-cell Mk 41 VLS for SM-2 and ESSM, Harpoon, and a fixed sensor and weapon fit rather than swappable mission modules.