6TH AUSTAL DESIGNED AND BUILT LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP COMPLETES ACCEPTANCE TRIALS

News Release

23 May 2017

6TH AUSTAL DESIGNED AND BUILT LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP COMPLETES ACCEPTANCE TRIALS

Austal Limited (Austal) (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce that the Independence variant Littoral Combat Ship 12 (LCS 12), the future USS Omaha, has successfully completed United States Navy (USN) acceptance trials.

Omaha is the 6^th Independence variant LCS to be designed and built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama under a current contract with the USN for 11 LCS vessels, valued at over US$3.5 billion.

Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said “The LCS continues to demonstrate Austal’s capabilities as a leading, global shipbuilder to deliver multiple, high value naval programs concurrently, in our shipyards throughout the world,”

“Omaha is the latest example of how Austal is successfully delivering complex, frigate-sized naval vessels today; providing further assurance of Austal’s capabilities to deliver both OPV and Future Frigate projects here in Australia,” Mr Singleton added.

The last significant milestone before delivery of the ship, the Navy-conducted acceptance trials includes comprehensive tests of the vessels’ propulsion plant, handling and auxiliary systems.

"The Navy/Industry trials team in Mobile has found their stride and, with stability in the serial production line, are bringing ships to trial with consistently improved performance at decreasing cost," said the United States Navy’s Captain Tom Anderson, LCS Program Manager.

"Omaha will be an exceptional addition to the rapidly growing in-service fleet."

Austal’s LCS program is at full-rate production, delivering two ships a year with six ships currently under construction. Manchester (LCS 14) is preparing for trials and Tulsa (LCS 16) will begin trials at the end of the year. Final assembly is well underway on Charleston (LCS 18) and Cincinnati (LCS 20), while modules for Kansas City (LCS 22) are under construction in Austal’s Module Manufacturing Facility (MMF). The USN’s Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) program is also under construction in Mobile, where Austal is delivering 12 x 103 metre EPF’s under a US$1.9 billion contract.

Austal is currently bidding with German shipbuilder and designer Fassmer for the Australian Government’s A$3 billion Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) project which will see 12 vessels constructed for the Royal Australian Navy from 2018; part of the Government’s A$89 billion Continuous Naval Shipbuilding Plan, formally announced last week.

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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.