Litton Gets $492-Million Navy Contract

Litton Avondale Industries, a unit of Woodland Hills-based Litton Industries Inc., said the U.S. Navy exercised an option for the construction of an LPD 19, an advanced assault ship, valued at $492 million. LPD 19, the third ship in its series to be ordered, will be constructed at Bath Iron Works, in Bath, Maine, a unit of Falls Church, Va.-based General Dynamics Corp. Litton is the lead designer and contractor of the LPD-series assault ships, which are intended to support U.S. Navy or Marine Corps troops in securing an area for potential landing of Army troops. The ships will be able to launch smaller vessels to reach the shore and helicopters off the back. Litton heads the Litton Avondale Alliance, which includes Bath Iron Works, Raytheon Co.’s Electronic Systems unit and Intergraph Corp. Twelve ships are planned for the LPD series. Two ships, LPD 19 and LPD 20, have been authorized and appropriated by Congress. LPD 20, which will be built at Avondale, is expected to be awarded soon, Litton said. In New York Stock Exchange trading, Litton shares fell 25 cents to close at $31.50 and GD shares rose 25 cents to close at $41.56.