Mobile’s Austal USA, a state-of-the-art ship manufacturing facility, has won a contract from the Navy potentially worth $3.195 billion.

The contract commissions Austal USA to design and construct up to seven TAGOS-25 class ocean surveillance ships. The company is partnering with L3Harris, Noise Control Engineering, TAI Engineering, and Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors.

TAGOS ships are used to conduct surveillance by gathering underwater acoustical data. In doing so they help to support the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System.

“The Austal USA team is excited to support the U.S. Navy with this critical program,” said Rusty Murdaugh, Austal USA president. “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. This contract award was enabled by our continual focus on our people and our facilities.

“The Austal USA workforce is proud of our role in providing for the nation’s defense by delivering these ships to the Navy.”

Anthony Nigara, president of the Maritime Sector of L3Harris, said his company is ready to join the Austal USA on the project.

“As the electronic and propulsion systems integrator, we’re excited to be a partner on the Austal USA team to develop the next class of TAGOS ocean surveillance ships,” he said. “Our strong partnership with Austal reinforces our commitment to delivering advanced, surveillance-capable platforms to meet the U.S. Navy’s mission requirements.”

Austal USA is building the Navy’s Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship and expeditionary fast transport. The award of the TAGOS program follows the recent awards  to Austal USA such as the towing and salvage ship and the auxiliary floating drydock medium for the Navy and the Coast Guard offshore patrol cutter.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.