Navy orders four LCSs

Contracts for four more Littoral Combat Ships were awarded Friday by the Navy, bringing the total of LCS vessels under order or in service to 12. Lockheed Martin received $715 million for two ships and Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., received $691.6 million for two ships. In Mobile, the award will fund the shipyard's fifth and sixth LCSs. The vessels, meant for minesweeping, submarine-hunting, anti-piracy efforts and special forces operations, represent the third funding increment to be awarded under a 10-ship, $3.8 billion deal that Austal secured in December 2010. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, Navy Times, 03/16/12)