Mobile, Alabama-based Austal USA has been awarded a significant contract worth up to $3.195 billion by the U.S. Navy. The contract involves the detail design and construction of Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship T-AGOS 25 class ocean surveillance ships.
Austal USA, serving as the prime contractor, has teamed up with L3Harris Technologies (L3Harris), Noise Control Engineering (NCE), TAI Engineering (TAI), and Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors (TMC) to execute the TAGOS program.
The contract features a fixed-price incentive and firm-fixed-price agreement worth nearly $114 million for the detail design. It also includes options for the construction of up to seven T-AGOS 25 class ships which, If exercised, would bring the value to nearly $3.2 billion.
TAGOS ships play a crucial role in providing a platform for anti-submarine acoustic passive and active surveillance. The vessels support the mission of the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) by collecting underwater acoustical data.
Austal USA President Rusty Murdaugh expressed his enthusiasm about supporting the U.S. Navy in this critical program.
“We have enjoyed our long partnership with the Navy in delivering aluminum ships and we are honored to continue that relationship in delivering high-quality steel ships on schedule and on budget,” said Murdaugh.
Austal USA has made significant capital investments to expand its capability and capacity, enabling simultaneous production of both aluminum and steel-hulled ships. This award follows Austal USA’s recent contract wins for other steel programs, including the U.S. Navy Towing and Salvage ship (T-ATS) and Auxiliary Floating Drydock Medium (AFDM), as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC).
Aside from these steel ships, Austal USA is also currently engaged in constructing the U.S. Navy’s Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship and Expeditionary Fast Transport.
