Austal USA’s shipyard in Mobile, Ala., has started production on modules supporting attack and ballistic missile submarine construction, the company said on Dec. 6.
Austal is working under a strategic partnership with
General Dynamics’ Electric Boat’s [GD] to build and outfit Command and Control Systems Modules (CCSM) and Electronic Deck Modules (EDM) for Virginia-class attack submarines and Columbia-class nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines.
The company said it started on-the-job training efforts in April to provide certification for skills trades and supervisory positions.
In late November, Austal started work on two tanks for a Virginia-class vessel. The first CCSM is set to arrive at Austal USA’s shipyard in Mobile by late January 2023 for initial outfitting work.
The company said this work will support the gradual ramping up fabrication and outfitting of CCSMs and EDMs across both submarine types, with full fabrication set to start in 2026.
Last May, Janes reported that Rear Adm. Scott Pappano, program executive officer for strategic submarines, said the Navy was considering using private shipyards not generally used for submarine work to do some of the construction to maintain build rates. He specifically named Austal USA as an option as it starts adding steel construction to its portfolio.
“This partnership is representative of the talent that exists across the shipbuilding industrial base and how it can be optimized to support the throughput our U.S. Navy and Nation require,” Austal USA president Rusty Murdaugh said in a statement.
“Our team of shipbuilders are excited to support this long-term relationship with GDEB as we continue to explore more opportunities to maximize production capacity during concurrent submarine production,” he added.
In October, the Navy awarded GD’s Electric Boat a $533 million modification for further lead yard support and development studies and design efforts for Virginia-class submarine, with options that could raise the award to $814 million (Defense Daily, Oct. 7).
Austal USA first opened its Mobile steel facility in April (Defense Daily, April 15).
The first steel ships Austal USA is constructing are four of the first five Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ships (Defense Daily, July 22).
The company’s second steel construction contract was awarded in June for one Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Medium (Defense Daily, June 21).
Also in June, the Coast Guard awarded Austal a contract worth up to $3.3 billion for detailed design and construction of up to 11 Coast Guard offshore patrol cutters (Defense Daily, June 30).