The U.S. Navy has awarded a $272.5 million contract to Ingalls Shipbuilding for the planning, advanced engineering and procurement of long lead-time material support for a new LHA-8 Amphibious Assault ship, USNI News reports.
The ship will have the multi-purpose capability of deploying aircraft from a flat-top deck as well as marine vehicles through an aft well deck. Projected to cost a total of $3.1 billion, the LHA-8 will be the third America class amphibious assault ship to be commissioned by the U.S. Navy, following the USS America, which was finished in 2014, and the USS Tripoli, which is still under construction.
The ships are designed to work closely with new defense projects like the F-35B joint strike fighter and the V-22 Osprey, both vertical takeoff aircraft able to make the best use of the ships’ smaller flat-top decks.
“This award adds to the successful amphibious shipbuilding legacy at Ingalls since the 1950s,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said in a company statement. “Our shipbuilders have proven this success by delivering 14 vital and capable large-deck warships to our nation’s amphibious fleet. This contract shows the Navy’s confidence in our ability to build these ships to the highest-quality standards and to do so affordably for the American taxpayers. We look forward to delivering another great ship.”
The Navy also awarded a contract for six John Lewis Class fleet oilers to General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO).