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| USS Independence LCS-2 (File Photo) |
Australian shipbuilder Austal has entered partnerships with Asia-Pacific shipyards to enhance support of U.S. Navy ships and those of other navies.
The partnership agreements with Unithai Shipyard and Engineering in Thailand and Vietnam's Cam Ranh Shipyard were announced at a defense exhibition in Singapore.
"We are very proud to have partnered with such reputable shipyards and we look forward to building mutually beneficial relationships to support the defense and commercial vessels in the region," said Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy.
"In particular, we are focused on developing a comprehensive capability tailored to support the requirements of the U.S. Navy's fleet of Littoral Combat Ships and Joint High Speed Vessels, both of which are expected to operate in the region."
Subsidiary Austal USA is building 10 JHSVs under a $1.6 billion contract and eight Independence-variant LCSs, six of which are a part of a 10-ship, $3.5 billion contract.
One LCS and one JHSV have been delivered.
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