Austal USA has been awarded a $18.5 million long lead contract from the Navy for the 12th Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel, the company announced on Thursday.
The funds will go toward “main propulsion engines, generators, water jets, main reduction gears, and other long-lead time items,” read the release.
The original class of EPFs – formerly known as the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) – was extended from ten to 12 with a long lead award for the 11th ship awarded by the service last year.
Last month the Austal USA laid the keel for the eighth ship in the class as part of the original $1.6 billion block buy for the first ten ships in the class that was awarded in 2008.
A $53.4 million long lead material contract for the 11th EPF was awarded to the company last November.
The company has delivered six EPFs and an additional three are under construction in its Mobile, Ala. shipyard.
The high-speed aluminum catamaran is based on Australian parent company Austal’s high speed ferry designed and will perform missions ranging from high speed intra-theater transport and assisting with drug interdiction missions in U.S. Southern Command.
The Marines are also studying the ship as a command and control platform for embarked troops.
