By Troy Turner
MOBILE – Austal USA recently delivered to the U.S. Navy the last littoral combat ship of the Independence-variant, the future USS Pierre (LCS 38).
Austal USA’s littoral combat ships are designed to be fast, agile, platforms that can be used in near-shore operations.
The multi-purpose warships can serve a wide variety of missions, including anti-submarine, mine countermeasures, surface warfare and special missions.
Austal USA, based in Mobile, is the builder of the Independence class of littoral combat ships, while a consortium led by Lockheed Martin is the Freedom-class producer.
The Pierre, christened in May 2024, is the Navy’s 19th Independence-variant LCS. It will be deployed to the Pacific fleet area of responsibility supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence.
“The Delivery of the future USS Pierre will be one of our most memorable milestone achievements as it marks the conclusion of Austal USA’s Independence-variant littoral combat ship program,” Austal USA President Michelle Kruger said. “Our shipbuilding team has poured years of dedication, innovation, and manufacturing excellence into this ship and the results are evident.
“Though USS Pierre is the last LCS Austal USA will deliver, we remain committed to supporting the U.S. Navy with innovative maritime solutions and the highest standards of quality.”
Navy personnel, including ship’s captain Justin Guernsey, sign official documentation signifying the delivery of future USS Pierre. (Austal USA)
In addition to building ships in the LCS program, Austal USA recently received a contract extension with the Navy to continue “emergent repair and continuous maintenance on the fleet’s littoral combat ships deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans and the countries and ports therein.”
Austal was granted a $48 million modification to a previously awarded contract, bringing the company a step closer to an overall, multi-year $216 million deal if all options continue to be exercised.
The recent modification exercises Option Year Two.
The repair and maintenance work will be primarily performed in Singapore “with a percentage that cannot be determined at this time” in countries and ports within the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Yokosuka, Site Singapore, is the contracting agency.
Photos of the future USS Pierre (LCS 38) prior to launch in Mobile Bay. (Austal USA)
Troy Turner is the editor and senior consultant for AlaDefense.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. His bio can be found here.
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