Austal delivers LCS 10 to US Navy
Austal has delivered the future USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) to the US Navy, the company announced on 26 December.
USS Gabrielle Giffords is the fifth Independence class variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) delivered to the navy since 2009.
The 127m LCS are being delivered under an 11 ship contract worth nearly $4 billion. The future LCS 12 and LCS 14 are preparing for sea-trials, LCS 16 and LCS 18 are in assembly and modules for LCS 20 and LCS 22 are underway at the company’s Module Manufacturing Facility.
LCS is designed for operational flexibility to accomplish critical warfighting missions including mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare with inherent capabilities that also support missions such as special operations and maritime interdiction.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Frigates and submarines anchor Brazilian naval modernisation worth US$5.52 billion
Shipbuilding programmes established over the past decade are setting Brazil's course towards having one of the most modern navies in the region.
-
Shoreline vulnerability drives Gulf interest in USV networks
Ukraine’s combat-proven Magura uncrewed surface vessel is attracting Gulf state interest as the Iran war exposes gaps in layered maritime air defence, raising questions about whether low-cost attritable systems can gain a foothold in a procurement culture historically drawn to high-end Western platforms.
-
Partnerships will be critical for future projects at Latin American shipyards
Multiple Latin American navies are modernising their fleets by prioritising domestically manufactured surface vessels and even submarines via international partnerships.