Without hesitation the deep and broad-based relationship between the two young nations was a major factor in Austal’s US success.

Austal’s international expansion faced a predicament: the US military seemed to have a need for Austal’s ships due to an increase in littoral warfare but US law and customs prevented Austal from being able to manufacture US military warships in Australia. In less than 20 years, Austal has invested more than $400 million dollars in allowing their US shipyard to become one of the largest employers in Mobile, Alabama, with more than 4,000 employees.