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US Navy orders 4 more Littoral Combat Ships (2 Independence class & 2 Freedom class)
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Naval Forces News - USA
US
Navy orders 4 more Littoral Combat Ships (2 Independence class & 2
Freedom class)
The Navy
issued contract modifications to Lockheed Martin Corporation and Austal
USA under their respective littoral combat ship (LCS) block buy contracts
to add funding for construction of two fiscal year 2012 littoral combat
ships each, March 16.
This is the third funding increment for each contractor under their
previously awarded, fixed-price incentive "block buy" contracts
for the design and construction of up to 10 LCS Flight 0+ ships. The
two block buy contracts provide for the acquisition of a total of up
to 20 littoral combat ships from fiscal year 2010 through fiscal year
2015, subject to availability of appropriations.
Under the block buy contract with Lockheed Martin Corporation, $715,000,351
was added for construction of two fiscal year 2012 LCS ships. Under
the block buy contract with Austal USA, $691,599,014 was added for construction
of two fiscal year 2012 LCS ships. These ships will be built at Marinette
Marine Corporation in Marinette, Wis., and Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.,
respectively.
The prices for the fiscal year 2012 ships were determined based on the
competitive, LCS dual block buy contracts awarded Dec. 29, 2010, and
also includes values associated with the incorporation of approved change
orders funded for the fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2011 ships previously
awarded in the block buy contracts.
"The Navy is successfully
driving down costs in the Littoral Combat Ship program," said Rear
Adm. James Murdoch, program executive officer for Littoral Combat Ships.
"We are continuing to execute the dual award strategy for these ships.
Efforts to stabilize design, improve production planning, invest in shipbuilder
improvements and leverage long-term vendor agreements all within the framework
of a competitive fixed-price contract have returned this program to the
level of affordability necessary for the Navy to move forward with construction
at efficient rates in support of the 55-ship LCS requirement."
The funding obligated is for
the ninth through the twelfth ships in the LCS class. USS Freedom (LCS
1) was delivered to the Navy in September 2008 and is currently executing
it planned post delivery test and trial events at its homeport in San
Diego. USS Independence (LCS 2) was delivered to the Navy in January 2010
and is currently undergoing test and trials in Mayport, Fla. Fort Worth
(LCS 3) is under construction at Marinette Marine and is planned to deliver
in June 2012. Coronado, (LCS 4) is under construction at Austal USA and,
is expected to deliver in early 2013.
Milwaukee (LCS 5) and Jackson (LCS 6) are in the early stages of construction.
Detroit (LCS 7) and Montgomery (LCS 8) are in pre-production stages.
LCS is needed to fill critical, urgent warfighting requirements gaps that
exist today. LCS is required to establish and maintain U.S. Navy dominance
in the littorals and sea lanes of communication choke points around the
world.