FUTURE USS MOBILE (LCS 26) COMPLETES ACCEPTANCE TRIALS FOR UNITED STATES NAVY

COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT

12 OCTOBER 2020

FUTURE USS MOBILE (LCS 26) COMPLETES ACCEPTANCE TRIALS FOR UNITED STATES NAVY

Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce that the future USS Mobile (LCS 26) has successfully completed acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico. LCS 26 is the 13th Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama, for the United States Navy (USN).

Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said Mobile (LCS26) was the third naval ship to successfully complete acceptance trials at Austal USA in 2020.

“I know that the Austal USA team are particularly proud of this latest LCS, which is named after their home city of Mobile, and they have every reason to be proud given this is the third ship built by Austal USA to have completed acceptance trials for the US Navy in 2020,” Mr Singleton said.

“The successful completion of acceptance trials for Mobile in Mobile, during this challenging time in world history is an outstanding achievement and testament to the skills and commitment of the Austal USA team.”

Acceptance trials involve the execution of a number of tests by the Austal USA-led industry team while the vessel is underway; demonstrating to the United States Navy the successful operation of the ship’s major systems and equipment. The trials are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship, scheduled for October 2020.

The Independence-class 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.

USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) continues her successful deployment with the Pacific fleet, while nine other Independence-class LCS are homeported in San Diego, USA.

Austal USA’s Independence-class LCS program is at full rate production, with five ships currently under construction including Mobile. The future USS Savannah (LCS 28) has launched and is preparing for trials and final assembly is underway on the future USS Canberra (LCS 30) and USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32). Modules for the future USS Augusta (LCS 34) are under construction in the module manufacturing facility.

Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship, the future USS Mobile (LCS26) constructed by Austal USA has successfully completed acceptance trials (Images: Austal USA)

This ASX announcement has been approved and authorised for release by David Singleton, Austal Limited’s Chief Executive Officer.

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Media Contact:

Cameron Morse

+61 433 886 871

cameron.morse@fticonsulting.com