The United States Department of Defence has awarded Austal USA US$10,252,142 for a cost-plus-award fee against a previously awarded basic ordering agreement.
The order provides engineering and management services for advanced planning and design in support of the post-shakedown availability for littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Manchester (LCS14).
Austal will provide program management, advanced planning, engineering, design, material kitting and subcontract management across its Mobile, Alabama and San Diego, California facilities.
The littoral combat ship is a 127-metre, frigate-sized vessel built at Mobile.
Six ships are under construction, with another two set to begin in the next 12 months.
Charleston (LCS 18) is preparing for trials, while final assembly is under way on Cincinnati (LCS 20) and Kansas City (LCS 22).
Modules for Oakland (LCS 24) and Mobile (LCS 26) are under construction in the module manufacturing facility.