Austal USA gains Independence-class LCS contract modification
The USN commissioned its latest Independence-class LCS vessel, USS Oakland, on 17 April 2021. (Photo: USN/Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Pearl)
Austal USA will provide design services and integrated data and product model environment support for the Independence-class LCS under the latest contract modification.
Austal USA has obtained a $44.38 million contract modification from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to exercise an option for Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) design services and integrated data and product model environment support.
Work will be performed in Mobile, Alabama (60%); and Pittsfield, Massachusetts (40%), and is expected to be completed by June 2022.
NAVSEA issued the original $584.2 million LCS construction contract for Austal USA in June 2017.
General Dynamics builds the Independence-class LCS variant at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that a total of 13 Independence-class ships have been delivered to the USN out of 19 originally planned.
However, cost increases and delays — and the failure of these vessels to meet expectations — means that the programme has been curtailed in favour of the FFG(X) future frigate programme.
Indeed, USS Independence will be retired from frontline duty on 31 July 2021 and USS Coronado will follow suit under plans announced by the USN in June 2020.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Funding for the future US Navy Trump-class battleship sparks controversy in Congress]()
Funding for the future US Navy Trump-class battleship sparks controversy in Congress
Lawmakers question the US Navy’s proposed $2 billion investment in the Trump-class battleship as concerns over cost, technology maturity and operational relevance fuel growing bipartisan scrutiny on Capitol Hill.
-
![UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition]()
UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition
The UK shipbuilder’s full-year results to the end of March revealed the impact of the £140 million charge linked to design changes and rework on the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate programme.
-
![Can Portugal solve NATO’s uncrewed systems development challenge?]()
Can Portugal solve NATO’s uncrewed systems development challenge?
NATO has spent more than a decade building one of the world’s most sophisticated maritime uncrewed experimentation ecosystems, but still lacks a way to translate this testing into alliance-wide operational capability. Portugal now believes it has the answer.
