Austal USA has received a $113.9 million contract to design the US Navy Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship (T-AGOS 25).
The agreement includes a $3.2 billion option for the design and construction of up to seven T-AGOS vessels.
Work on the first T-AGOS will take place at various US locations in partnership with L3Harris Technologies, Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, TAI Engineering, and Noise Control Engineering.
Delivery is expected by 2024, while production will continue through 2034 if all options are exercised.
“T-AGOS is a unique auxiliary naval platform that plays an integral role in supporting the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare mission,” Austal Limited CEO Paddy Gregg said.
“Austal USA is honored to be selected to deliver this critical capability for the Navy, utilising our advanced manufacturing processes, state-of-the-art steel shipbuilding facilities and our growing team of shipbuilders.”
US Navy T-AGOS Platform
T-AGOS vessels are deployed with the US Navy Atlantic and Pacific fleets for anti-submarine missions.
According to the US Congressional Research Service, the fleet gathers “underwater acoustical data to support the mission of the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System by providing a ship platform capable of theater anti-submarine acoustic passive and active surveillance.”
T-AGOS vessels carry Surveillance Towed-Array Sensor System equipment to collect the data.
Once completed, the new T-AGOS 25 fleet will replace the navy’s four Victorious-class (T-AGOS 19) and one Impeccable-class (T-AGOS 23) small waterplane area twin hull ships.
The aging fleet entered the service in 2000 and is set to retire starting in 2026.