Austal Ltd
(ASX:ASB) has announced the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) “USS Independence” has officially joined the operating forces of the United States Navy at an historic commissioning ceremony, held near Austal’s Alabama facility yesterday.
The LCS will serve as a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments. The ship is designed to defeat asymmetric “anti-access” threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft.
USS Independence offers superior maneuverability and stability, endurance to travel 4300 miles at 18 knots, three weapon zones, capacity for any two mission packages simultaneously, and a flight deck larger than any other surface combatant other than aircraft carriers.
Austal reported a profit of $9.1million for fiscal 2009.
