Austal is Australia's global shipbuilder and defence prime contractor. The company designs, constructs and maintains revolutionary naval platforms such as the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) for the United States Navy, the Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats for the Royal Australian Navy, Guardian-class Patrol Boats for Pacific Island nations; as well as an extensive range of high speed passenger and vehicle ferries for commercial operators globally. Austal also designs, installs, integrates and maintains sophisticated command and control systems such as MARINELINK and utilises artificial intelligence to optimise hull forms through the innovative new program, DeepMorpher.