Austal pens $3bln deal to build up to seven TAGOS 25 ships for US Navy

Austal USA has been awarded a contract to build up to seven TAGOS 25 ocean surveillance ships for US Navy.

As informed, the company will perform detailed design and construction of up to seven TAGOS-25 class ocean surveillance ships. The contract has a potential value of $3.1 billion.

 Austal, as the prime contractor, has teamed with L3Harris Technologies (L3Harris), Noise Control Engineering (NCE), TAI Engineering (TAI), and Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors (TMC) for the execution of the TAGOS program.

TAGOS ships provide a platform capable of performing anti-submarine acoustic passive and active surveillance. They support the mission of the integrated undersea surveillance system (IUSS) by gathering underwater acoustical data. 

“The Austal USA team is excited to support the U.S. Navy with this critical program. We have enjoyed our long partnership with the Navy in delivering aluminum ships and we are honored to continue that relationship in delivering high-quality steel ships on schedule and on budget,” Austal USA President Rusty Murdaugh said.

“This contract award was enabled by our continual focus on our people and our facilities. The Austal USA workforce is proud of our role in providing for the Nation’s defense by delivering these ships to the Navy.”

“As the electronic and propulsion systems integrator, we’re excited to be a partner on the Austal USA team to develop the next class of TAGOS ocean surveillance ships,” said Anthony Nigara, President, Maritime, L3Harris.

The award of the TAGOS program follows the recent award of other steel programs to Austal USA including the U.S. Navy towing and salvage ship (T-ATS) and auxiliary floating drydock medium (AFDM) and the U.S. Coast Guard offshore patrol cutter (OPC).

In addition to the steel ships mentioned previously, Austal USA is currently constructing the U.S. Navy’s Independence-variant littoral combat ship and expeditionary fast transport.