Austal's Global Support Business Continues To Grow With New LCS 10 Post Shakedown Availability Contract

Austal Limited (Austal) (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce the U.S. Navy has awarded a contract to Austal USA, to provide engineering and management services support of the Post Shakedown Availability for Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10).

The US$12 million cost-plus-award-fee order adds to Austal USA’s growing support business, which provides critical support to both the LCS and Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) fleets. Austal USA will provide design, planning, and material support services for Gabrielle Giffords (LCS10), including program management, materials planning, engineering and design, material kitting, liaison and scheduling.

Austal USA is currently completing an 11-ship Independence-variant LCS contract for the U.S. Navy worth over US$3.5 billion. The program is maturing rapidly with four of the 127 metre ships delivered and seven ships under construction at this time; USS Montgomery (LCS 8) was delivered to the U.S. Navy in June 2016 and commissioned in September 2016, the future USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), USS Omaha (LCS 12) and USS Manchester (LCS 14) are undergoing sea trials. Final assembly continues on the future USS Tulsa (LCS 16) and USS Charleston (LCS 18), whilst modules for the future USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) are under construction in Austal’s advanced module manufacturing facility (MMF).

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About Austal

Austal is a global defence prime contractor and a designer and manufacturer of defence and commercial ships. For more than 27 years Austal has been a leader in the design, construction and maintenance of revolutionary ships for governments, navies and ferry operators around the world. More than 255 vessels have been delivered in that time.

Ships

Defence vessels designed and built by Austal include multi-mission combatants, such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) for the United States Navy and military high speed vessels for transport and humanitarian relief, such as the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ships for the U.S. Navy and High Speed Support Vessel (HSSV) for the Royal Navy of Oman. Austal also designs, constructs, integrates and maintains an extensive range of patrol and auxiliary vessels for government agencies globally, including the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program for Australian Border Force. Defence vessels are designed and constructed in Mobile, Alabama and in Henderson, Western Australia.
Austal has been at the forefront of the high speed ferry market since the early days of the industry. Our market leading designs of high performance aluminium vessels have long been at the heart of Austal’s research and development. Today, commercial ship construction is centred on our shipyard in Balamban, Philippines.

Systems

Austal has expertise in integrating complex systems into its ships, including ride control, ship management, and communication, sensors and weapon systems.

Support

Austal provides a wide range of support services, including through life support, integrated logistics support, vessel sustainment and systems support. These services are delivered through our global support network in the USA, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East together with partner shipyards worldwide.