News Review: Austal awarded construction contracts for JHSVs 4 and 5 | ADM Dec 2010/Jan 2011
Austal has been awarded the construction contract for the fourth and fifth vessels of the US Department of Defense’s Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), as part of a program potentially worth over US$1.6 billion.
Austal received US$99.5 million previously from the US Navy to acquire long lead-time material including diesel engines, water jets and reduction gears for these two vessels in June 2010.
The additional work is valued at approximately US$204.6 million.
“The full award for the fourth and fifth JHSVs further demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to the program and their confidence in our performance,” Austal USA’s president and chief operating officer Joe Rella said.
As Prime contractor, Austal was awarded the construction contract for the first 103-metre JHSV in November 2008, with options for nine additional vessels expected to be exercised between FY09 and FY13.
The Austal JHSV team includes platform systems engineering agent General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems which is responsible for the design, integration and test of the ship’s mission systems, including internal and external communications, electronic navigation, and aviation and armament systems.
The JHSV will transport medium-size operational units with their vehicles, or reconfigure to provide troop transport for an infantry battalion, allowing units to transit long distances while maintaining unit integrity.
The vessel will also be capable of supporting humanitarian relief efforts, operating in shallow waters (under four metres) which will further enhance theater port access, and reaching speeds in excess of 35 knots fully loaded.
The Joint High Speed Vessels will be a joint-use platform operated by both the US Army and Navy.Austal is currently completing its second Littoral Combat Ship (USS Coronado) for the US Navy and is also a contender to supply eight 45 metre patrol boats to the Australian Customs Service to replace the highly successful Bay Class patrol boats which it delivered to Customs in 2000.
Tenders have been lodged and a winner is expected to be selected in April 2011.
Austal buys ATI
In November 2010, Austal announced it had acquired Canberra-based defence SME Australian Technology Information Pty Ltd (ATI), a specialist in systems engineering and integration, information technology, verification and validation systems and deployable tactical command centres.
In financial year 2010 ATI turned over $ 6.1 million.
“ATI has developed a very successful business in providing state-of-the-art systems engineering and associated technologies to the Australian Defence Forces,” Austal chief operating officer Andrew Bellamy said.
“These technologies are an ideal complement to Austal’s existing design and production capability in the defence sector and will allow Austal to expand the range of services and products that it can deliver to defence customers worldwide.”