
The Navy awarded Austal USA a $44 million contract modification on June 7 to build and demonstrate autonomous capability in the future expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Apalachicola (EPF-13). The award covers the detail design, procurement, production implementation and demonstration of autonomous capability. The work will largely occur at the company’s shipyard in Mobile, Ala. (60 percent) and is expected to be finished by July 2022. Of the contract amount, $22 million in fiscal year 2021 Navy shipbuilding cost-to-complete funding…