Austal secures JHSV 4 and 5

This is part of a program potentially worth over $1.6 billion. Austal USA’s president and COO Joe Rella remarked, “The full award for the fourth and fifth JHSV’s further demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to the program and their confidence in our performance.”

As prime contractor, Austal was awarded the construction contract for the first 103m JHSV in November 2008, with options for nine additional vessels expected to be exercised between FY09 and FY13. The Austal JHSV team includes platform systems engineering agent General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems who is responsible for the design, integration and test of the ship’s mission systems, including internal and external communications, electronic navigation, and aviation and armament systems.

Austal received authorisation from the Navy to start construction on the first U.S. Army vessel of the contract,

Spearhead

(JHSV 1), in December 2009 after completing the rigorous design in a 12-month period. A formal keel laying ceremony was held for

Spearhead

at Austal’s Mobile, Alabama shipyard on 22 July, 2010, and it is on schedule for launch in June 2011 and delivery in December 2011. Construction on

Vigilant

(JHSV 2) began in Austal’s Module Manufacturing Facility on 13 September, 2010.

The JHSV will transport medium-size operational units with their vehicles, or reconfigure to provide troop transport for an infantry battalion, allowing units to transit long distances while maintaining unit integrity. The vessel will also be capable of supporting humanitarian relief efforts, operating in shallow waters (under four metres) which will further enhance theatre port access, and reaching speeds in excess of 35 knots fully loaded. The JHSVs will be a joint-use platform operated by both the United States Army and Navy.