Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a USD 94 million fixed-price contract from the US Coast Guard (USCG) to purchase long-lead materials for a 10th National Security Cutter (NSC).
The advance procurement funds will be used to purchase major components for NSC 10, such as steel, the main propulsion systems, generators, electrical switchboards and major castings.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contract award to Huntington Ingalls for NSC 10 comes less than a week after Congress provided USD 1.24 billion to sustain the acquisition schedule for a new NSC fleet. This included funding for the construction of NSC 10 and long-lead-time materials and construction for NSC 11.
Funding to construct NSC 10 and the procurement of long-lead-time materials and construction of NSC 11 will be awarded in future contracting actions totaling USD 1.2 billion, according to a statement issued by Washington Office, United States Senate.
Ingalls has delivered six NSCs, the flagship of the Coast Guard’s cutter fleet, designed to replace the 12 Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters that entered service in the 1960s. Ingalls’ seventh NSC, Kimball (WMSL 756), is scheduled to be delivered to the Coast Guard later this year. In addition, Midgett (WMSL 757), is scheduled to start builder’s trials in the fourth quarter, and Stone (WMSL 758) is scheduled to launch this summer.
NSCs are 418 feet long with a 54-foot beam and displace 4,500 tons with a full load. They have a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles, an endurance of 60 days and a crew of 120.
The Legend-class NSC is capable of meeting all maritime security mission needs required of the high-endurance cutter. The cutter includes an aft launch and recovery area for two rigid hull inflatable boats and a flight deck to accommodate a range of manned and unmanned rotary wing aircraft.
It is said to be the largest and most technologically advanced class of cutter in the US Coast Guard.