Austal USA Secures A$1.28B Contract for Expeditionary Medical Ships from U.S. Navy

Austal USA has been awarded an undefinitised contract worth $867.6 million (A$1.28 billion) by the United States Navy for the design and construction of three Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS).

The EMS, a variant of the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) platform developed by Austal, will be produced on Austal USA’s aluminum manufacturing line following the completion of the Expeditionary Fast Transport ship (EPF 16).

The contract allows for the final detailed design of the Expeditionary Medical Ship and the commencement of the construction of three vessels. Paddy Gregg, Chief Executive Officer of Austal Limited, stated that the EMS will expand the capabilities of the EPF platform, facilitating more intricate medical procedures and operations at sea.

Designed to be cost-effective and optimized for Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), the Expeditionary Medical Ship offers dedicated medical support, including patient holding, stabilization, evacuation, and transport. The shallow draft of the EMS design allows for access to austere ports, and the flight deck is capable of accommodating military aircraft such as the V-22 Osprey and CH-53K heavy lift cargo helicopter.

Austal USA has previously delivered 13 EPFs to the United States Navy, with the upcoming delivery of the first EPF Flight II, the future USNS Cody (EPF 14), featuring enhanced Role 2E medical capability. Additionally, two more Flight II vessels are currently under construction.

The announcement, released on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), has been approved and authorized for release by Paddy Gregg, Austal Limited’s Chief Executive Officer. The Expeditionary Medical Ship represents a high-speed aluminum catamaran designed to bolster medical support for the United States Navy based on the proven Expeditionary Fast Transport design.