Austal, the Western Australian shipbuilder, has accepted the US Navy’s revised tender for ten littoral combat ships (LCS).

In a proposed change to the LCS tender approach, the navy will buy ships from Austal and Lockheed, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“The feasibility of the amended procurement approach to award ten vessels each to Austal and Lockheed Martin remains subject to both Lockheed’s consent and the approval of US Congress,” Austal said.

Austal expects the US Congress to make a decision by mid-December 2010.