Coronado (LCS 4) Completes Navy Acceptance Trials
This milestone achievement, say builders Austal, after trials in the Gulf of Mexico, involved the execution of intense comprehensive tests by the Navy while underway, which demonstrated the successful operation of the ship’s major systems and equipment.
Upon returning from trials, Craig Perciavalle, President of Austal USA, remarked, “The successful completion of acceptance trials for this vessel validates the quality and reliability of Austal’s shipbuilding know-how. I am pleased with the performance of this ship which is a direct result of the hard work and incredible craftsmanship of the entire Austal USA team of shipbuilding professionals.”
The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. This vessel is the second of twelve, 127-meter Independence-variant LCS class ships Austal has been contracted to build for the U.S. Navy (including USS Independence (LCS 2), delivered to the Navy in 2009). The final 10 of the 12 were awarded to Austal as prime contractor subsequent to a $3.5 billion block buy in 2010.
Austal’s teaming partner, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (a business unit of General Dynamics) is the ship systems integrator, responsible for the design, integration and testing of the navigation systems, C4I, and aviation systems.
The LCS program is in full swing according to Austal USA with five ships under construction at this time. Coronado (LCS 4) will soon be followed by Jackson (LCS 6) which will launch at the end of the year and Montgomery (LCS 8), which is being assembled after celebrating its keel laying ceremony on June 25, 2013. Construction is well underway on Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) along with Omaha (LCS 12) which started construction last month.