Juicy U.S. Navy awards like T-AGOS contract are seen by some as making Austal a tempting takeover goal [Image: Austal]
Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., has been awarded a $113,906,029 NAVSEA contract for the element design and development of the lead T-AGOS 25 Class Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship.
The contract contains choices for element design and development of as much as seven T-AGOS 25 class ships, taking its potential worth of $3.195 billion.
The 110 meter metal small waterplane space twin hull (SWATH) T-AGOS 25 ships, operated by United States Military Sealift Command (MSC), are bigger and sooner than the present T-AGOS vessels that help the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission of the commanders of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets by offering a platform able to passive and energetic anti-submarine acoustic surveillance. T-AGOS vessels help the Navy’s Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) by gathering underwater acoustical knowledge utilizing Surveillance Towed-Array Sensor System (SURTASS) tools.
As prime contractor for the contract, Austal USA is teaming with L3Harris Technologies, Noise Control Engineering, TAI Engineering, and Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors to ship the TAGOS-25 program, from the corporate’s new metal shipbuilding facility in Mobile, Alabama.
“The Austal USA team is excited to support the U.S. Navy with this critical program. We have enjoyed our long partnership with the Navy in delivering aluminum ships and we are honored to continue that relationship in delivering high-quality steel ships on schedule and on budget,” Austal USA President Rusty Murdaugh stated. “This contract award was enabled by our continual focus on our people and our facilities. The Austal USA workforce is proud of our role in providing for the nation’s defense by delivering these ships to the Navy.”
“As the electronic and propulsion systems integrator, we’re excited to be a partner on the Austal USA team to develop the next class of TAGOS ocean surveillance ships,” stated Anthony Nigara, President, Maritime, L3Harris. “Our strong partnership with Austal reinforces our commitment to delivering advanced, surveillance-capable platforms to meet the U.S. Navy’s mission requirements.”
GROWING STEEL SHIPBUILDING PORTFOLIO
Paddy Gregg, CEO of Austal USA’s mum or dad, Austal Limited [ASX:ASB] famous that the T-AGOS contract provides to Austal USA’s rising portfolio of metal shipbuilding applications and is an extra demonstration of the U.S. Government’s belief in Austal USA’s capabilities.
“The T-AGOS contract is a clear acknowledgment of Austal’s capabilities in steel naval shipbuilding, that includes the Navy’s Towing, Salvage and Rescue (T-ATS) ships, an Auxiliary Floating Drydock Medium (AFDM), and the US Coast Guards’ Offshore Patrol Cutters,” stated Gregg. “These four steel naval shipbuilding projects, and our continuing successful delivery of the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship and Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport programs, are positioning Austal USA exceptionally well to meet the growing demands of the US Navy and Coast Guard,” Mr Gregg stated.
