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)
