Jay Clemens
Austal USA has launched the USS Montgomery littoral combat ship the company built for the U.S. Navy’s near-shore and open-ocean operations under a $3.5 billion block purchase inked in 2010.
General Dynamics‘ Advanced Information Systems served as integrator for the ship’s navigation, C4I and aviation systems, General Dynamics said Wednesday.
Austal USA collaborated with Berard Transportation and BAE Systems‘ Southeast Shipyard to perform the multi-step launch process for the 127-meter Independence-variant ship.
“We are very proud to launch the ship named after the capital of Alabama, especially since the greatest shipbuilders made it happen right here in Mobile, Alabama,†said Craig Perciavalle, Austal USA president.
“The LCS program continues to progress very well as we continue to see marked improvement in performance ship to ship,†added Perciavalle.
The launch team worked to lift and move the vessel to a deck barge moored near the assembly bay before transferring the LCS to BAE Systems’ floating dry dock.
USS Montgomery is set to go through final outfitting and activation in the Mobile River in front of Austal USA’s facility.
