L-3 $14M Contract for LCAC Service Life Extension
L-3 Unidyne announced that it has been awarded a $14m firm fixed-price contract to execute the U.S. Navy’s Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) for LCACs 63, 72 and 74. The award includes provisions for additional work, which if exercised, would bring the total value of this contract to approximately $17m. Work will be performed in Camp Pendleton, Calif., and is expected to be completed by August 2012.
The LCAC SLEP scope of work includes repair and upgrade of the buoyancy box and fuel system, installation of more powerful gas turbine engines, installation of a deeper skirt, and completion of selected craft alterations and repair work. The upgrade also includes installation of an integrated command, control, communications, computers and navigation equipment package.
“L-3 has delivered 14 high-quality, mission-ready LCAC SLEP availabilities, successfully extending and modernizing the life of the LCAC program,” said John Greene, president of L-3 Marine Service Group. “This award has strategic importance as L-3 prepares to bid with Textron and Alcoa on the Ship-to- Shore Connector (SSC), the next generation of LCAC.”
The purpose of the LCAC SLEP is to extend the platform’s service life for another decade, increasing its life expectancy to 30 years by sustaining and enhancing craft capability, replacing obsolete electronics, repairing corrosion damage, increasing survivability and establishing a common configuration baseline.
