Austal-built LCS to deploy to Americas

The Navy is planning to deploy one of its West Coast littoral combat ships – an Independence variant built at Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala. - to Latin America this year for a first-of-its-kind counter-drug mission, U.S. Southern Command's Adm. Craig Faller testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 7. Faller told the committee that USSC is working with the Navy to deploy the LCS before the end of 2019. "We expect to have (an LCS) this year, and that will be a big benefit for our exercise program” for engaging with partner-nations, and “because of the flexibility it brings for counter-narcotics interdiction," he said. In January, Vice Adm. Richard Brown, commander of Naval Surface Forces, said the service plans to deploy three LCS this year - two West Coast/Austal built, and one from the East Coast. (Source: Military.com 02/07/19)