Australian-based shipbuilder Austal announced that it was awarded four separate post-shakedown availability (PSA) contracts by the U.S. Navy for littoral combat ships (LCS) 6 and 8.
According to Austal, the contracts are worth over US$4.9 million in total.
On May 6, 2016, Austal was awarded a $11.8 million contract to provide engineering and management services for advance planning and design in support of the post shakedown availability for the littoral combat ship Montgomery (LCS 8).
The latest contracts will involve the delivery of engineering and management services in the development of bridge wings and additional berthing for USS Jackson (LCS 6) and the future USS Montgomery (LCS 8).
Austal USA is currently completing an 11-ship Independence-variant LCS contract for the U.S. Navy worth over US$3.5 billion.
Montgomery (LCS 8) completed acceptance trials in early May and is scheduled for delivery this summer. Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), Omaha (LCS 12) and Manchester (LCS 14) are preparing for sea trials, whilst final assembly is well underway on Tulsa (LCS 16) and Charleston (LCS 18).
Modules for Cincinnati (LCS 20) are now under construction in Austal’s Module Manufacturing Facility at Mobile Alabama.