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Austal test radar system of littoral combat ship Friday, May 22, 2009 By By KAIJA WILKINSON Business Reporter Mobile Press-Register A U.S. Coast Guard jet made about six low passes over the Mobile River near Austal USA Thursday afternoon, allowing radar tests aboard the littoral combat ship Independence in preparation for sea trials set to start at the end of June. Thursday's activity followed a similar series of flyovers in recent weeks. At that time, the jet flew at a much higher altitude of about 5,000 feet, said Austal spokesman Bill Pfister. During Thursday's tests, it flew at about 300 to 500 feet and was clearly visible over downtown. Pfister said the tests went well. Austal is part of a General Dynamics Corp.-led team that is competing to build dozens of the new breed of highly maneuverable, shallow-water warships. Both Independence and the team's second LCS on order, to be named Coronado, boast an innovative aluminum trimaran hull. Pfister said work on Coronado is set to start as soon as late June. A competing team led by Lockheed Martin Corp. delivered the first of its steel-hulled ships to the Navy in the fall and is also working on a second vessel. Pfister said Austal plans to deliver Independence to the Navy in September. Two naval crews consisting of 40 people each are already in Mobile, at least part time, he said. Next up will be dockside trials, followed by some four days of builder's sea trials and finally, acceptance trials, when the customer, in this case the Navy, takes the ship out for a final test prior to delivery. After delivery, a formal commissioning with parades, dinners and parties is planned in Mobile, probably sometime in early 2010, Pfister said. Austal, which at last count had about 1,000 employees, is on schedule to finish the first phase of a new modular manufacturing facility - capable of building three LCS-scale ships at once - in July. Return to News