The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded shipbuilders Austal and Lockheed Martin contracts to build additional two littoral combat ships.
Under the contracts, Austal is to deliver the 15th Independence-variant of the LCS, while Lockheed Martin and its partner Fincantieri Marinette Marine are to deliver a Freedom variant LCS.
In an announcement on Oct. 6, the Pentagon said both contracts were under the US congressional cost cap of US$584 million per ship without revealing their exact value due to competition reasons.
Both ships are expected to be delivered by October 2023.
Austal has delivered six LCS and Lockheed five littoral combat ships to the US Navy so far. Odd-numbered hulls (LCS 1, LCS 3) are being stationed at Naval Station Mayport, and even-numbered hulls are homeported at San Diego.