HowmetWASHINGTON--Alcoa Defense, the defense industry’s leading supplier of aluminum, titanium and other light alloys, today congratulated Austal USA and Lockheed Martin on receiving awards to construct the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) fleet for the U.S. Navy. The LCS is the U.S. Navy’s first surface-combatant ship in 15 years to feature aluminum. Additionally, Austal’s LCS is the first all-aluminum surface combatant ship in the U.S. Navy fleet and Lockheed Martin’s LCS features an aluminum superstructure.
“We want to congratulate both companies on this new generation of naval vessels,” said Dave Dobson, President, Alcoa Defense. “We look forward to working with them to help maximize light-alloy performance while streamlining the supply chain and reducing manufacturing costs.”
Each LCS integrates aluminum in its structure, which reduces its weight and allows the ship to be faster and more agile. This agility enhances the ability of LCS-class vessels to operate close to shore, in the littoral zone. About 55 Littoral Combat Ships will be produced over a 12-year period.
Under Alcoa’s contract with the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Carderock Division, the company provides design and engineering development support to both LCS teams. Alcoa also supplies marine plate and fabricated aluminum subassemblies for the Austal LCS.
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 nine consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 59,000 people in 31 countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.