News Review: First Austal LCS joins US Navy fleet | ADM Mar 2010

Austal is part of an LCS team led by shipbuilder General Dynamics.

Austal Managing Director Bob Browning said the vessel would be an exciting addition to the US Navy's fleet.

"USS Independence really is a new generation of combat ship.

"This technological leap in naval warfare will deliver significant advantages, not only in terms of increased capability, but also through vastly reduced operating costs over the life of the vessel."

Austal's low drag trimaran hull form affords the 127m, all-aluminium Independence superior maneuverability and stability, endurance to travel 4,300 miles at 18 knots, three weapon zones, capacity for any two mission packages simultaneously, and a flight deck larger than any other surface combatant other than aircraft carriers.

The vessel has a maximum speed of more than 45 knots.

"For a shipbuilder that started in business in Australia just 21 years ago to successfully hand over such a revolutionary platform to the most powerful navy in the world is both a momentous achievement and an honour," Browning said.

Construction is already underway on Austal's second US Navy LCS, Coronado which is expected to be delivered in 2012.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon released the RFP (equivalent to an Australian RFT) for 10 LCS ships on 29 January to the two LCS contenders, led by Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics.

From being a split buy the LCS program has become a ‘winner take all' contest, though it's probable that the winning design will be built in more than one yard in order to achieve the delivery rates sought by the US Navy.

Concurrently, Austal USA has begun construction of the first Joint High Speed Vessel which will be named Fortitude (JHSV 1).

The JHSV is designed to be the US Department of Defense's next-generation multi-use platform.

As Prime contractor, Austal will design and build up to 10 of the 103m multi-hull ships, worth some US$1.8 billion, by 2013 - five for the US Navy and five for the US Army.

On 29 January the US Navy ordered the second and third ships in this program.

Austal had previously received funding for long-lead items, including diesel engines, water jets and reduction gears, for these two vessels.

The contract for the two ships is worth approximately $225 million and they will be built in Mobile.

Austal was selected as Prime contractor for the JHSV program in November 2008, which included construction of the first JHSV and options for nine more.

Austal Managing Director Bob Browning commented: "By exercising Options 2 and 3, the US Navy has signalled its support of this important and significant multi-vessel program.

"The JHSV program could serve to extend the United States' ability to provide humanitarian relief globally and Austal is pleased to be able to contribute to this effort through the speedy delivery of this highly flexible, low-cost vessel."

Two other Austal USA-built high-speed vehicle ferries, Alakai and Huaka, are currently supporting the ongoing earthquake relief operation in Haiti.