Austal USA delivered the future littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS-28) to the Navy on June 25, the company announced Monday.
LCS-28 is the 14th Independence-variant LCS and seventh such vessel the company delivered to the Navy within the past two years. The company produces the vessels in its Mobile, Ala. shipyard.
Last month, the Savannah successfully completed acceptance trials with demonstrations in-port and underway at sea in the Gulf of Mexico. LCS-28 is set to sail to its homeport in San Diego, Calif., to be with its sister Independence-variant ships after being commissioned (Defense Daily, May 26).
Austal USA said this rate of production shows the company’s “unique capability in the serial production of ships” for the Navy.
“Delivering yet another quality ship on time and on budget demonstrates the important role Austal USA plays in the shipbuilding industrial base and value of Austal USA’s highly skilled workforce. Delivering two major ship programs on schedule and on budget is something our team is incredibly proud of,” Austal USA Interim President Rusty Murdaugh said in a statement.
The company noted production on LCS-28 was completed in under three years and 12-months faster than earlier ships in the program.
Other ships under construction at Austal’s Mobile facility include five more LCSs and two Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport ships. Another two vessels, LCS-38 and EPF-15 are under contract and planned to enter construction soon, the company said.