AUSTAL USA DELIVERS FUTURE USS AUGUSTA (LCS 34) TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY

Austal USA delivers future USS Augusta (LCS 34) to the United States Navy

Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce that the future USS Augusta (LCS 34) has been delivered to the United States Navy. LCS 34 is the 17th Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama.

Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said the delivery of Augusta, just five months after the vessel was christened in December 2022, highlights Austal USA’s productivity and efficiency in delivering multiple naval shipbuilding programs.

“The speed at which the Austal USA team are managing the completion and delivery of multiple, complex naval assets is truly impressive,” Mr Gregg said

“Already in 2023, Austal USA has delivered EPF-13, the autonomous-capable USNS Apalachicola and opened a huge new service facility in San Diego.

“Now, with the delivery of the future USS Augusta, we congratulate Austal USA on their continued focus on quality and efficiency and thank the team for another outstanding capability for the US Navy.”

The future USS Augusta will be homeported at Naval Base San Diego, adjacent to Austal USA’s new waterfront repair and maintenance facility, which features a floating dry dock capable of servicing Littoral Combat Ships, Frigates and other similar sized surface combatants and auxiliary ships.

The Independence-variant LCS is a high-speed, shallow-draft surface combatant with an aluminium trimaran hull that provides class leading, multi-mission capability. These ships are designed to defeat growing littoral threats and provide access and dominance along coastal waters.

A fast, maneuverable, and networked surface-combatant, LCS provides the required warfighting capabilities and operational flexibility to execute surface warfare, mine warfare and anti-submarine warfare missions.

Austal USA’s Independence-variant LCS program is nearing completion, with only two ships of a total 19 to be delivered remaining under construction: the future USS Kingsville (LCS 36) and USS Pierre (LCS 38).

Austal USA is also delivering the Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (T-EPF) program for the United States Navy and has delivered 13 of a total 16 vessels ordered to date. The last EPF, the USNS Apalachicola was the first EPF (and the largest surface vessel in the US Navy fleet) to have autonomous capability for unmanned missions.

In addition to the LCS and EPF programs, Austal USA is contracted to deliver four Towing, Salvage and Rescue (T-ATS) steel hull ships for the US Navy and has a US$3.3 billion contract for up to 11 Offshore Patrol Cutters for the United States Coast Guard.

This ASX announcement has been approved and authorised for release by Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer, Paddy Gregg.

Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship, the future USS Augusta (LCS 34) has been delivered to the U.S Navy (Image: Austal USA)

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Media Contact:

Adrian Rauso, FTI Consulting

+61 481 264323 

adrian.rauso@fticonsulting.com