Article Posted on : - Aug 07, 2014

An Austal photo

MOBILE, ALABAMA (BNS): Austal USA has successfully completed the launch of the future Littoral Combat Ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8).

This vessel is the second of ten 127- metre Independence-variant LCS class ships Austal has been contracted to build for the US Navy as prime contractor subsequent to a $3.5 billion block buy in 2010.

The ship is now moored in the Mobile River in front of Austal USA's facility, where it will undergo final outfitting and activation before sea trials and delivery to the Navy.

The LCS is a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation, Austal said.

Currently five ships are under construction at Austal USA - Jackson (LCS 6) was christened in March and is preparing for sea trials later this year; Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) is being assembled in preparation for launch later this year; and construction is well underway in Austal's Module Manufacturing Facility (MMF) on Omaha (LCS 12) and Manchester (LCS 14), with Tulsa (LCS 16) starting in early August.

Austal has also been contracted by the US Navy to build ten, 103-metre JHSVs under a 10-ship, $1.6 billion contract. Three of the ten have already been delivered.