Article Posted on : - Mar 25, 2011

Independence-Class Littoral Combat Ship

WASHINGTON (BNS): US Navy has awarded a USD$368.6 million contract to Austal for the construction of a fourth 127-metre trimaran Independence-Class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 8).

Recently, Austal has received a USD$3.5 billion contract from US Navy for the construction of additional 10 Littoral Combat Ships in five years.

Once commissioned, these 10 ships will join the Austal-built USS Independence (LCS 2) which was commissioned in January 2010.

Currently, construction of Coronado (LCS 4), Spearhead (Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) 1) and Vigilant (JHSV 2) is underway at Austal’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.

Construction of the LCS 8 will commence in January 2012.

Over the course of the next 12 months, Austal will commence the construction of LCS 6, the first vessel awarded under the LCS 10 ship block buy contract and JHSVs 3, 4 and 5.