The Coast Guard has awarded Northrop Grumman [NOC] an $89 million contract for long-lead materials for the fifth 418-foot Legend class National Security Cutter (NSC), which is scheduled to be delivered in the later half of FY ’15. The contract contains options that would increase the potential value to $94 million. The funding will purchase such things as main propulsion and navigation systems, generators, electrical switchboards, major castings and the ship’s integrated control system. The long-lead award follows Northrop Grumman’s contract from the Coast Guard last November to construct the fourth NSC, the Hamilton. That ship is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of FY ’15, about three years later than the third NSC, the Stratton, which is more than 75 percent complete and will be delivered later this year. The contract for the Hamilton contains options to award long-lead contracts for the fifth and sixth NSCs. The company is building the high-endurance cutters at its shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. The Coast Guard plans to buy eight NSCs, two of which are already in service.