The Navy awards a $212 million contract for Textron Inc. In March 2011 a solicitation for Ship-to-Shore-Connector landing craft was issued by the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command. The request for proposals began the process of building a replacement for the Landing Craft Air Cushion amphibious craft that first entered service in the mid-1980s. The office of Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said the contract includes options that could make it worth as much as $570 million. Landrieu’s office said Textron will build a boat at its Slidell facility with a 30-year service life capable of carrying a 74-ton payload and traveling at speeds of more than 35 knots. Sen.