Each LCS Features More than 1 Million Pounds of
High-Quality Aluminum
One of the Single Largest Uses of Aluminum in
the World
WASHINGTON–Alcoa Defense today congratulated Austal USA on the christening of the Coronado,
the second Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS),
recently inaugurated in Mobile, Alabama. The Independence-variant LCS is
a 127-meter all-aluminum vessel, with a trimaran hull–design which
offers maneuverability, stability, endurance, shallow draft, and a
flight deck larger than any other U.S. Navy surface combatant. The LCS
is one of the single largest uses of aluminum anywhere in the world.
Each LCS features more than one million pounds of high-quality aluminum,
helping make the ship lighter, stronger and faster. The LCS is the
largest aluminum vessel being constructed today and most of the hundreds
of thousands of pounds of the 5083-alloy aluminum plate for each ship is
supplied by Alcoa’s Davenport Works in Riverdale, Iowa. In addition to
marine plate, Alcoa Defense also supplies fabricated aluminum
subassemblies for the Austal LCS.
The LCS is capable of being outfitted with reconfigurable payloads
(mission packages) which can be changed quickly to support mine
countermeasure, anti-submarine and surface warfare missions. The vessel
has a maximum speed of more than 45 knots. The Coronado is the second of
an expanded 12-ship, Independence Class LCS program, with the potential
for more.
“Austal selected Alcoa aluminum for this critical supply contract, for
many reasons, including our unmatched dimensional capabilities of our
rolling mills – delivering the widest range of sizes available in the
industry,” said David Dobson, President of Alcoa Defense. “Alcoa and
Austal are working together to introduce innovative flight deck tie
downs, aluminum armor solutions and large, thick plate sub-assemblies to
subsequent LCS vessels that will take even more weight off the ship and
improve shipbuilding efficiency.”
In addition to the LCS program, Alcoa Defense and the Davenport plant
are supplying Austal with high-quality aluminum for the Joint High Speed
Vessel (JHSV) program. Austal has been awarded contracts for 7 of the 10
planned JHSV’s as part of a $1.6 billion contract. Three of the JHSV’s
are currently under construction – USNS Spearhead (JHSV-1), Choctaw
County (JHSV-2) and JHSV 3. For the LCS and JHSV programs, Austal is
teamed with General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business
unit of General Dynamics.
About Alcoa Defense
Alcoa Defense partners with industry leaders to design systems and
materials that increase the speed, reach, agility and survivability of
military platforms. In addition to delivering lightweight, innovative
solutions in multiple product forms, Alcoa Defense manufactures
subassemblies, prototypes and complete aluminum structures that original
equipment manufacturers can integrate into their platforms for land, air
and sea. More information can be found at AlcoaDefense.com.
About Alcoa
Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is the world’s leading producer of primary and
fabricated aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and
refiner of alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum
industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the
aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial
transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the
past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled
products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels,
fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building
systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as
titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral
part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and
engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index for 10 consecutive years and approximately 75
percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in
active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 61,000 people in 31
countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.