BATH (AP) – A General Dynamics-led team has won a $78.8 million contract for final design of the Navy’s high-speed, high-performance Littoral Combat Ship, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced Thursday.

Collins, R-Maine, said the contract will be managed by Bath Iron Works, which will also develop the design and blueprints for the ship. The General Dynamics team will perform a 16-month final system design.

The Littoral Combat Ship is designed to operate in shallow waters close to shore. It is designed to support a variety of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and mine warfare.

Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said top Navy officials have identified the LCS program as one of their highest priorities. The Navy’s long-term plan includes the potential purchase of up to 60 Littoral Combat Ships, Collins said.

The contract announced Thursday will ensure that BIW remains at the forefront of innovative ship design, the senator said.

With Thursday’s decision, General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin teams have each received final design contracts. A second contract was awarded to the Lockheed Martin team for $46.5 million for detailed design work.

Competition for the contract began in 2002.

The design put forth by the General Dynamics team includes a trimaran hull form. Under the contract, the Navy has an option to proceed with construction of up to two LCS vessels. The ships would be built by Austal USA in Alabama.

A Senate defense authorization bill includes full funding for the LCS. The House defense authorization legislation delays the project for a year and does not include full funding.

AP-ES-05-27-04 1814EDT