MOBILE, Ala., July 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has exercised contract options with Austal USA for funding the construction of a sixth and seventh Joint High Speed Vessel.
The JHSVs are part of a 10-vessel program potentially worth more than $1.6 billion.
The construction contract for both vessels is valued at about $313 million, the company said.
As prime contractor, Austal was awarded the construction contract for the first 338-foot JHSV in November 2008, with options for nine additional vessels between FY2009 and FY2013.
The Austal JHSV team includes platform systems engineering agent General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, which is responsible for the design, integration and testing of the ship's mission systems, including internal and external communications, electronic navigation, and aviation and armament systems.
Austal received authorization from the Navy to start construction on the first vessel of the contract in December 2009. USAV Spearhead (JHSV-1) is scheduled for launch in August and delivery in December. Construction on USAV Vigilant (JHSV 2) began at Austal's Mobile, Ala., shipyard last September.
Austal USA President and Chief Operating Officer Joe Rella said, "This award facilitates the continued development and growth of our U.S. operations, as well as the expansion of our Alabama workforce from over 2,000 to nearly 4,000."
Austal is also building a second Independence-variant 417-foot Littoral Combat Ship for the U.S. Navy, Coronado (LCS 4), which is scheduled for launch in September.
