Austal Unveils New Warship

Just over two years in the making Austal revealed its latest war ship. Austal CEO Bob Browning says the LCS (Littoral Combat Ship),built for the Navy, took 27 months and over four-hundred million dollars to make.

Browning says one of the main features of the all aluminum ship is that it's designed for shallow water."It only draws a draft of little under 12 feet for a ship that size, so it's capable of doing anti-submarine warfare, mine detection avoidance it's a very very flexible platform, "Said Browning. Austal officials say, so far the Navy likes what they see and they want more. "They've always been very consistent about wanting 55 of these ships and you know we'll have our design out there shortly and Lockheed-Martin has theirs and we'll either get the whole thing or half of it or something, "Said Browning.

Some of the Austal employees who worked on the 'Independence" LCS say they would've never imagined working on a project of this size. With the possibility of building 55 more of these warships, they can't wait to roll up their sleeves. "It's unbelieveable, it's an experience that you'll never forget in your lifetime. So it's been great and I look forward to building another one," Said Gilbert Fleury an employee with Austal. "All the Navy people that come in there love it...they want more of it and I hope we could build it for them," Said Sam Peach, who says he's like to retire with the company.

Austal CEO Bob Browning says they will break ground soon on a modular manufacturing facility in the Port of Mobile. If the Navy approves, Astal hopes to produce 6 warships a year and double itsworkforce. The 'Independence' will take its first dip in the water tomorrow (Sunday),while workers put finishing touches on the ship.