A worker in the shipyard’s foundry uses a torch to slice through scrap steel at Newport News Shipbuilding. HII Photo
The largest issue facing the nation’s private shipyards is the ability to attract and retain a quality workforce with a single government customer, the president of the Shipbuilders Council of America told the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday. Read More
The future littoral combat ship USS Tulsa (LCS 16) returns to Austal USA after launching from the drydock at BAE Ship Systems on March 16, 2016. US Navy photo.
The president of Austal USA has resigned after the conclusion of a company-driven investigation related to multiple issues with the Littoral Combat Ship program.
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Fincantieri FFG(X) Design based on the FREMM. Fincantieri Image
This post has been updated to include comments from industry.
No protests have been filed over the Navy’s decision to award Fincantieri a detail design and construction contract for the FFG(X) program, clearing the way for work to begin, the Navy confirmed to USNI News.
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Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MDUSV) prototype Sea Hunter pulls into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii on Oct. 31, 2018. US Navy Photo
ARLINGTON, Va. – As the Navy moves forward with unmanned surface and undersea vessels in a range of sizes for myriad missions, some things remain constant among the vehicles: they’ll all need to continue making improvements in autonomy, they’ll all need parts that are reliable enough to go without human intervention for weeks or months at a time, and they’ll all need power sources for their long journeys. Read More
Austal USA rendering of proposed EPF hospital ship. Austal USA
Australian-based Austal Limited predicts its work building U.S. Navy ships in Alabama and ferries in Australia will drive an increase in earnings this year, according to a statement released by company executives.
The littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8) enters dry dock for Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) at San Diego Ship Repair on May 19, 2017. PSA is designed to harness results of a thorough test and evaluation period and pave the way to operational employment by the Navy. It is the last availability in the ship construction period and required repairs identified during combat systems ship qualifications trials and final contractor trials are made using contractor and program office money. US Navy photo.
Austal USA is looking to deepen its ties with the Littoral Combat Ship program, pursuing multiple efforts to remain involved in maintenance and life cycle management for the ship program still about halfway through construction. Read More
USS Tulsa (LCS-16) launched on March 15, 2017. Austal USA photo.
This post has been updated to include additional information on Austal USA’s financial history with the Littoral Combat Ship program.
Federal agents visited Littoral Combat Ship manufacturer Austal USA in its Mobile, Ala., shipyard as part of an unspecified investigation involving the U.S. Navy, according to local media. Read More
The future littoral combat ship USS Omaha (LCS 12) returns to the Austal USA shipyard after successfully conducting acceptance trials on May 10, 2017. The trials consisted of a series of graded in-port and underway demonstrations for the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). Austal USA photo.
The Navy on Friday awarded contracts to Lockheed Martin and Austal USA to build one Littoral Combat Ship each, completing the service’s 2017 LCS buy after previously awarding Austal a contract for another LCS earlier this year. Read More
Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado (LCS-4) transits the Bohol Sea on June 17, 2017. US NAvy Photo
This article is the first in a three-part series on the changes occurring in the Littoral Combat Ship community as the fleet rapidly grows, moves to a new crewing and organizational construct and prepares for multi-ship forward operations.
SAN DIEGO -– The Littoral Combat Ship fleet has spent the last year in the midst of a reorganization and preparing for a new way of doing business following recommendations from a 2016 LCS Review that pointed the Navy towards injecting simplicity, stability and ownership into the unusual program.
A year into implementing those recommendations, the LCS fleet looks vastly different than originally envisioned – and to the benefit of both the program office, the sailors and operational commanders, several officers told USNI News. Read More
USS Tulsa (LCS-16) launched on March 15, 2017. Austal USA photo.
The Navy awarded Austal USA up to $584.2 million for one Littoral Combat Ship, while the service is still negotiating with Lockheed Martin for the second ship and weighs its options for the third ship, USNI News understands. Read More
