Mobile clears acceptance trial hurdle
The future USS Mobile, an Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), has successfully completed acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico.
‘This is the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship’ to the USN, shipbuilder Austal USA noted in a 12 October statement.
The ship is the third LCS built by Austal USA to complete acceptance trials in 2020.
The LCS programme ‘is at full-rate production and continuing its momentum at Austal USA, with five ships currently under construction including Mobile’, the company noted.
The future USS Savannah (LCS 28) was launched on 3 September and is preparing for trials. Final assembly is underway on the future USS Canberra (LCS 30) and USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32). Modules for the future USS Augusta (LCS 34) are under construction.
Shephard Defence Insight reports that three other ships (up to LCS 38) are awaiting construction.
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