Breaking news
Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Coronado featured at IMDEX Asia 2017.
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 Austal is also featuring its LCS based Frigate design at IMDEX |
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Austal is also featuring its LCS based Frigate design at IMDEX. First unveiled last month at the Sea Air Space exhibition in Washington, D.C., the design received positive reviews. At a considerable cost savings to the customer, the new Frigate design maintains the mature sea frame design from the Independence-variant LCS. Due to the ships design margins, Austal naval architects designed the vessel with 16 over-the-horizon missile chutes, 16 vertical launch chutes, variable depth sonar, towed array sonar, upgraded radars and sensors, enhanced targeting pod and electronic countermeasures, while maintaining the 57mm bow gun.
Due to the strength and lightweight composition of the ship’s military grade aluminum alloy structure, the vessel maintains its high-speed capability while also retaining extraordinary endurance and range for a small surface combatant. “Our frigate team has met the challenge with every new or changing requirement and we’ll continue to work with the Navy to deliver exactly what they need,” said Tim McCue, vice president for LCS programs at Austal USA. “We have a sound design, hot production line, ready workforce, and a proven track record to meet customer requirements.” The USS Jackson (LCS 6) just completed SeaRAM anti-air defense testing in April and the USS Montgomery (LCS 8) completed final contract trials in March, a step preceding the ship’s introduction to fleet operations. The USS Independence (LCS 2) continues to meet all scheduled milestones as a critical testing and training asset for the fleet. U.S. Navy expeditionary fast transport ships, USNS Millinocket (T-EPF 3) and the USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4), are also in the Pacific region, although will not be participating at IMDEX Asia 2017.. The Navy acquired the EPF to be high-speed intra-theater transports to ferry troops, tanks, trucks and equipment. However, shortly after it entered the fleet in 2012, combatant commander’s leveraged its flexibility and quickly expanded the EPF mission to include disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, intelligence and surveillance, command and control, theater engagement, and medical response. Today, these ships are in high demand all around the globe. With Austal delivering 13 ships in just over seven years from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama, the company’s post-delivery support and sustainment business is expanding with the opening of a new support facility in Singapore. “We have two very mature productions lines that continue to deliver ship after ship to our customer,” said Perciavalle. “Our commitment is to provide world-class service around the globe and establishing a Singapore operations hub was prudent for how we’re growing our business.” The Singapore office will not only provide support to both the LCS and EPF fleets, operated by the US Navy and US Military Sealift Command; and also any additional naval, auxiliary or commercial vessels delivered by Austal globally, into the region. Austal USA initiated its Singapore operations in January with the opening of an office near Changi Naval Base. The growth and investment strategy highlights the company’s support to our customer and ships specifically where they deployed. The US Navy announced three Independence-variant LCS will be forward deployed in 2018. Austal USA remains well positioned for the future, with construction on an additional six littoral combat ships and three expeditionary fast transports continuing at Austal’s module manufacturing facility (MMF) in Alabama, with three more ships on contract waiting to begin construction. |
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 Austal announced the opening of a new support facility in Singapore |
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With Austal delivering 13 ships in just over seven years from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama, the company’s post-delivery support and sustainment business is expanding with the opening of a new support facility in Singapore.
“We have two very mature productions lines that continue to deliver ship after ship to our customer,” said Perciavalle. “Our commitment is to provide world-class service around the globe and establishing a Singapore operations hub was prudent for how we’re growing our business.” The Singapore office will not only provide support to both the LCS and EPF fleets, operated by the US Navy and US Military Sealift Command; and also any additional naval, auxiliary or commercial vessels delivered by Austal globally, into the region. Austal USA initiated its Singapore operations in January with the opening of an office near Changi Naval Base. The growth and investment strategy highlights the company’s support to our customer and ships specifically where they deployed. The US Navy announced three Independence-variant LCS will be forward deployed in 2018. Austal USA remains well positioned for the future, with construction on an additional six littoral combat ships and three expeditionary fast transports continuing at Austal’s module manufacturing facility (MMF) in Alabama, with three more ships on contract waiting to begin construction. |
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