BAE Systems has awarded a subcontract to Austal to provide structural maintenance services for the US Navy’s Sea Fighter (FSF-1) research vessel.

The 79.9m-long vessel has a displacement of 1,100t and can cruise at a speed of 50 knots.

The US Navy’s Office of Naval Research uses the vessel for advanced technology demonstrations.

The contract has a potential value of $1.5m and work is likely to run through the first quarter of next year.