General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has been awarded a $100 million contract from the U.S. Navy to purchase long-lead materials for the construction of a twelfth T-AKE dry cargo-ammunition ship. NASSCO already is under contract to construct 11 T-AKE ships at its shipyard. Under the contract, NASSCO will place orders for the ship’s engines and other components that have significant manufacturing lead times. A contract that funds construction of T-AKE 12 is expected to be awarded by February 2009. Construction of the ship will begin in the first quarter of 2011, with delivery scheduled to occur in the fourth quarter of 2012. NASSCO has delivered five T-AKE ships to the Navy and is currently building the sixth through ninth ships of the class. With 12 ships under contract, the Navy has options to build two additional T-AKEs at NASSCO for a total class of 14 ships.