The littoral combat ship USS Independence (LCS 2). Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Armando Gonzale/U.S. Indo-Pacific Command/Flickr.

The US Navy has received its 15th Independence littoral combat ship (LCS) variant, the future USS Canberra (LCS 30), from Austal USA.

LCS 30 is the second warship to carry the name USS Canberra in honour of the capital city of Australia.

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The warship is also the second LCS delivered by Austal USA to the Navy this year.

The US Navy’s LCS programme involves the construction of the vessels in two variants, the Freedom-class and the Independence-class.

Austal USA is serving as the prime contractor for the Independence-class and Lockheed Martin is developing the Freedom-variant.

Austal CEO Paddy Gregg said that the vessel was named after Australia’s national capital, Canberra.

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It was sponsored by Australian Foreign Minister and Senator Marise Payne.

Gregg said: “We were honoured to have Senator Marise Payne lay the keel for the future USS Canberra in March 2020, and now we’re very pleased to be delivering the completed vessel to the Navy, on time and on budget.

“Canberra is the 15th Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship that Austal USA has delivered to the US Navy, since 2010; an outstanding track record for a multi-billion-dollar programme, comprising 19 ships in total.

“Add on the twelve Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessels that Austal USA has also delivered, during roughly the same timeframe, and you get a clear picture that our Mobile, Alabama shipyard is an incredibly efficient, value-adding asset within the United States’ defence industrial base.”

Currently, construction of four more LCSs is underway at Austal USA, including the recently launched USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) and USS Augusta (LCS 34), while modules for USS Kingsville (LCS 36) and the USS Pierre (LCS 38) are under construction.

Two EPF vessels (EPF 13 and 14) are also under construction at the company’s shipyard. 

Marinette (LCS 25), Nantucket (LCS 27), Beloit (LCS 29) and Cleveland (LCS 31) are the other ships which are currently in various construction stages.

In October this year, Austal USA secured a detailed design and construction contract for the US Navy’s two towing, salvage, and rescue ships (T-ATS 11 and 12).