The first aluminum has been cut for Austal’s third Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Jackson (LCS 6). After completing a successful Production Readiness Review (PRR) last week, the US Navy issued instructions to move ahead with production. US Navy Secretary Ray Mabus personally visited Austal’s Mobile, Alabama shipyard recently to announce the name of the first two ships of Austal’s latest 10-ship LCS order, worth over US$3.5 billion, awarded at the end of 2010.

The construction contract for Montgomery (LCS 8), valued at US$368.6 million, was announced earlier this year. “ Jackson will be the first Littoral Combat Ship to fully realise the efficiencies from Austal’s Modular Manufacturing Facility (MMF) ”, said Austal USA’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Joe Rella . “ The MMF helps us bring the efficiency of a high-tech assembly line to shipbuilding, giving taxpayers the best value possible .”