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WDS 2026: Lockheed Martin Promotes Multi-Mission Surface Combatant Frigate to Gulf Navies.
Lockheed Martin showcased its Multi-Mission Surface Combatant frigate, emphasizing endurance, layered defense, and interoperability for Gulf navies. The presentation underscored how regional maritime modernization is increasingly tied to protecting sea lines of communication and operating seamlessly with allied fleets.
At the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, Lockheed Martin placed a strong emphasis on maritime security by presenting a detailed model of its Multi-Mission Surface Combatant, a frigate configuration aimed at navies seeking a combination of endurance, layered defense and integration within coalition frameworks. Displayed in a country that continues to prioritize the protection of sea lines of communication and critical offshore infrastructure, the ship attracted sustained attention from military delegations evaluating future fleet structures. The model illustrated a program that has already entered production while remaining central to broader discussions about regional naval modernization.
At WDS 2026 in Riyadh, Lockheed Martin spotlighted its in-production Multi-Mission Surface Combatant frigate as a flexible, coalition-ready platform aimed at strengthening Gulf naval maritime security (Picture Source: Army Recognition Group)
The Multi-Mission Surface Combatant, widely known as the MMSC, builds upon engineering work conducted for the Freedom-variant littoral combat ships of the U.S. Navy. However, the export approach diverges from the initial modular philosophy. Instead of relying on interchangeable packages, the frigate incorporates permanently installed combat systems, allowing commanders to deploy with a full spectrum of capabilities from the moment the ship leaves port. Publicly available data generally place displacement near the 4,000-ton class, with a hull measuring about 118 meters in length and more than 17 meters in beam, dimensions that position the vessel among contemporary light frigates while preserving notable speed.
Propulsion is based on a combined diesel and gas turbine plant driving waterjets. This choice supports rapid reaction times, high sprint performance frequently cited above 30 knots and effective maneuverability in restricted waterways. For Gulf operators, where dense traffic, coastal infrastructure and shallow areas are routine considerations, these characteristics translate into tactical flexibility. Endurance figures released in open sources indicate deployments extending over several weeks depending on mission intensity, a parameter essential for escort operations or persistent maritime presence.
Digitally, the ship revolves around the COMBATSS-21 combat management system. Drawing from Aegis heritage, it enables integration into shared operational pictures and cooperative engagement environments. The architecture allows information exchange with aircraft, other ships and shore facilities, supporting distributed defense concepts that have become standard in multinational maritime operations. The primary surveillance sensor associated with the design is typically the TRS-4D active electronically scanned array radar, able to conduct simultaneous air and surface search while feeding fire-control quality data to missile systems.
In terms of armament, the configuration developed for Saudi Arabia provides a clear illustration of intent. A vertical launch system is designed to employ medium-range interceptors such as the ESSM, giving the frigate the ability to contribute to area air defense rather than limiting it to point protection. Anti-ship missiles mounted on deck furnish long-range strike options against surface threats, while a medium-caliber naval gun ensures versatility for warning fire, limited shore engagement or asymmetric scenarios. Close-in defensive layers, supported by remotely operated weapons, enhance resilience against fast attack craft and aerial threats, including unmanned systems.
Aviation capability forms another pillar of the concept. The flight deck and enclosed hangar can host helicopters in the MH-60 category, aircraft that expand detection and engagement ranges through dipping sonar, airborne torpedoes, surveillance sensors and boarding support. As unmanned aviation becomes increasingly common in regional doctrines, the same infrastructure can sustain rotary-wing or small fixed-wing drones, multiplying reconnaissance coverage and reinforcing networked operations.
Industrial organization plays a defining role in the credibility of the program. Ships ordered for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces are being built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine in the United States, while Lockheed Martin leads combat-system integration, crew preparation and long-term sustainment planning. Training pipelines, logistics chains and maintenance structures are conceived from the outset to maintain availability throughout the service life of the vessels. For many procurement authorities, such through-life considerations weigh as heavily as raw platform performance.
Operational logic provides the backdrop to the interest generated in Riyadh. Regional planners must contend with missile proliferation, the rapid spread of unmanned technologies and the necessity to secure vital energy routes. A frigate equipped with vertical launch missiles, modern sensors and embarked aviation can escort merchant traffic, protect high-value naval units and operate within allied task groups. The emphasis on interoperable software and widely fielded weapon families suggests a deliberate alignment with partners that regularly deploy together in nearby waters.
By the close of the exhibition, the Multi Mission Surface Combatant had become one of the defining maritime symbols of the stand. Its representation underscored both the tangible progress of ships already advancing through construction and the continuing relevance of the design for navies evaluating expansion or renewal. Blending speed, digital connectivity and multi-domain firepower, the frigate embodies an approach in which individual platforms serve as integral components of wider security architectures. The discussions it stimulated in Riyadh indicate that demand for such connected and heavily armed surface combatants is likely to remain a central theme in the evolution of Gulf maritime forces.