Austal USA is working on detailed design and construction of the 15th and final ship in the Spearhead class of Expeditionary Fast Transport (ETF) vessels for the USN.
The shipbuilder received a $235 million contract modification from Naval Sea Systems Command on 26 February.
Work will be performed in Mobile (63%) and other locations in the US, for completion by March 2024.
The EPF class provides a high-speed, shallow draft transportation capability to support intra-theatre deployment of personnel, supplies and equipment for the US Army, USMC and USN.
The vessels are operated by USN Military Sealift Command. Shephard Defence Insight reports that the programme is operating on schedule and under its $3.3 billion budget, with 12 vessels delivered as of March 2021.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) [USN]
The expansion of the Redstone facility in Alabama will enable Raytheon to increase production of Standard Missiles in the location by 50% and support Washington in refilling stockpiles after recent operations have depleted the Pentagon’s reserves.
Major naval initiatives including the European Patrol Corvette programmes and Norway’s UK partnership-focused purchase of Type 26 frigates point to the growing interest in the advantages of commonality across allied navies.
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.
The offensive against Iran could impact training and maintenance cycles and accelerate the degradation of the US arsenal on top of depleting Washington’s stockpiles.
The UK MoD is scoping out systems to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems, with a focus on low-cost modularity and speed to field.
Connect with us on socials
