Lockheed Martin, Austal Win US Navy Contracts to Build Three Littoral Combat Ships

The United States Navy has awarded modifications to previously awarded Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contracts for one Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 LCS to Lockheed Martin and two FY 2018 LCSs to Austal USA, Sept. 18.

“These contract awards represent an important next step in delivering critical warfighting capability to the Fleet,” said Capt. Mike Taylor, LCS program manager (PMS 501) Tuesday.

The three LCSs being awarded today are the future LCS 29, LCS 32 and LCS 34. LCS 29 will be built at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. LCS 32 and LCS 34 will be built at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama.

The Navy has accepted delivery of 16 LCSs. Including today’s contract modifications, a total of 32 LCSs have been procured, with 10 ships under construction (LCS 15, 17, 19-26) and six additional ships under contract (LCS 27-30, 32, 34).

The Navy may release a competitive solicitation(s) for additional LCS class ships in fiscal year 2019, and therefore the specific contract award amount for these ships is considered source selection sensitive information, the US department of defense said in a statement Tuesday.

The work is expected to be completed by September 2024.