Austal USA’s order
backlog has grown by approximately US$681.7 million as a result of two
additional Littoral Combat Ship
(LCS) contract options being exercised by the US Navy.
The contract options fund construction of the LCS 14 and LCS
16, the fifth and sixth ships in the 10-ship block buy award made to an
Austal-led team in December 2010.
That 10-ship program is potentially worth
over US$3.5 billion.
Austal chief executive officer Andrew Bellamy said the company’s US Navy programs provide revenue
and workload for years to come.
“Austal’s production of these revolutionary ships continues
to expand and improve, simultaneously delivering better program outcomes for
the Navy and improved financial results for the company’s shareholders,” he
said.
As Austal USA continues to expand its service and repair
capabilities, the company is well-positioned for new business with engineering,
test and trials capabilities, and a new waterfront facility on the Mobile Bay
waterfront.
Austal has been contracted by the US Navy to build ten
103-metre JHSVs under a 10-ship, US$1.6 billion contract, one of which has
already been delivered, and eight 127-metre Independence-variant LCS class
ships (including USS Independence, delivered to the Navy in 2009), six of which
are a part of a 10-ship, US$3.5 billion contract.
USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2) and Coronado (LCS 4) have both
been launched and are preparing for sea trials later this spring.
Construction
of another three JHSVs and two LCSs is also underway in Austal’s Mobile,
Alabama shipyard.