Austal Lands Maintenance, Modernization Contract

The littoral combat ships Independence, Manchester and Tulsa sail the Eastern Pacific. (MC Shannon Renfroe/U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy has awarded Mobile-based Austal USA a sustainment execution contract to conduct repair, maintenance and modernization of all littoral combat ships (LCSes) with San Diego as their home ports, Yellowhammer News reported. According to GovconWire, Austal shares the $344.7-million contract with Epsilon Systems Solutions and Continental Maritime of San Diego. The award includes all Austal-built Independence-variant LCSes, as well as the Freedom-variant LCS. The growth of Austal’s service business is in line with its expansion along 15 acres of Mobile waterfront (BBN #7 and 8). “We are particularly focused on expanding our capability in the Pacific region to meet the growing demand from our Navy, Coast Guard and Military Sealift Command customers,” Austal USA Interim President Rusty Murdaugh added.