Austal wins more US Navy work SHIP builder Austal has been granted extra work worth $US14 million ($A15.79 million) on an existing contract with the US Department of Defence. Austal's contract to build the Littoral Combat Ship for the US Navy has been modified to include service efforts, which will involve Austal providing engineering and design services, as well as efforts to improve the ships' affordability. Austal's Littoral Combat Ship program began in 2002, and has delivered four ships to the US Navy to date. The Littoral Combat Ship is a fast, agile surface combat ship designed to defeat threats in shallow coastal waters.