No slowdown, Austal prez pleads

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – Austal USA president Craig Perciavalle runs one of the most modern shipyards in America. It is designed to produce high-speed, all-aluminum ship hulls. The Mobile, Ala., shipyard is in full-rate production on the Independence Class of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), and Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) for the Navy. However, its future is less certain. The EPF contracted line is nearing an end, and the future of LCS, and a potential follow-on frigate, isn’t clear, although Austal USA revealed a new proposed design for that future frigate here at the Sea-Air-Space Exposition. (Source: Defense News interview 05/10/17)