Austal USA has received a potential three-year, $235 million contract to design and construct an additional Expeditionary Fast Transport ship for the U.S. Navy’s Spearhead class.
The military service is procuring the 15th EPF to support the branch’s maritime security, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance operations, Austal said Monday.
The catamaran will have a capacity of over 300 troops and include features to support more missions such as medical support and command-and-control.
A Department of Defense notice published Friday says the company will initially receive $60 million on the award and the DOD expects work to be completed in March 2024.
The Navy will obligate $60 million in fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion funds at the time of award.
Austal USA is currently building the Navy’s future USNS Apalachicola, also known as EPF 13. The future USNS Cody, designated as EPF 14, will undergo construction beginning in the second half of fiscal year 2021.
Paddy Gregg, CEO of Austal Limited, said the next EPF will have expanded medical facilities to support health-related missions in Westerm Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific region.
The company has completed 12 EPF vessels since 2012. The Navy and Military Sealift Command have used EPFs across global missions.
