Austal receives build contract for final Spearhead vessel
Spearhead-class programme is operating on schedule, with last vessel to be delivered by March 2024.
Austal USA is working on detailed design and construction of the 15th and final ship in the Spearhead class of Expeditionary Fast Transport (ETF) vessels for the USN.
The shipbuilder received a $235 million contract modification from Naval Sea Systems Command on 26 February.
Work will be performed in Mobile (63%) and other locations in the US, for completion by March 2024.
The EPF class provides a high-speed, shallow draft transportation capability to support intra-theatre deployment of personnel, supplies and equipment for the US Army, USMC and USN.
The vessels are operated by USN Military Sealift Command. Shephard Defence Insight reports that the programme is operating on schedule and under its $3.3 billion budget, with 12 vessels delivered as of March 2021.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) [USN]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Denmark places $184 million contract for Naval Strike Missiles]()
Denmark places $184 million contract for Naval Strike Missiles
The missiles are being purchased through a government-to-government sale with Norway and will be operated from Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates.
-
![Why USNORTHCOM would struggle to defeat China in the Arctic]()
Why USNORTHCOM would struggle to defeat China in the Arctic
Not having enough naval and C4ISR capabilities to patrol and monitor the region would the US at risk in a conflict with China in the Arctic region.
-
![How will NATO’s Baltic Sentry work to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea?]()
How will NATO’s Baltic Sentry work to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea?
The rise in incidents of damage to subsea cabling in the Baltic Seahas driven NATO to commit to bolstering the action of local navies. But how effective can it be?
-
![GAO recommends better oversight of support for shipyards in the face of capacity concerns]()
GAO recommends better oversight of support for shipyards in the face of capacity concerns
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) believes the US industrial base will struggle to meet US Navy (USN) requirements. This follows recent warnings from USN heads of a decline in resources and that the industrial base is under strain.
