Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII] started fabrication of the future USS Bougainville (LHA-8) at its shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., on Oct. 15.

The ship is largely being produced in the Pascagoula facility and it is scheduled to be delivered by 2024. LHA-8 is set to be the first Flight I LHA Replacement Program ship and third America-class ship. It will reincorporate a well deck and feature the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar volume air search radar.

A representation of the future USS Bougainville (LHA-8), an amphibious assault ship. (Image: Huntington Ingalls Industries)
A representation of the future USS Bougainville (LHA-8), an amphibious assault ship. (Image: Huntington Ingalls Industries)

This radar will replace the AN/SPS-48G air search radar in place on the ISS America (LHA-6) and USS Tripoli (LHA-7).

The well deck and larger flight deck will allow LHA-8 to accommodate F-35Bs MV-22s, and two landing craft air cushion hovercraft or one landing craft utility (LCU).

“We are excited to commence fabrication on the third ship of the America class. We look forward to achieving future production milestones as we work to deliver this versatile and capable warship to the Fleet,” Tom Rivers, amphibious warfare program manager for Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships, said in a statement.

James Geurts, the Navy acquisition chief, said the Bougainville “represents the next generation of amphibious capabilities and is a key component to meet the demands of the National Defense Strategy.

The Navy first awarded HII a $3 billion contract modification to build LHA-8 in June 2017 (Defense Daily, June 19, 2017)

HII’s Pascagoula shipyard is currently building the future USS Tripoli (LHA-7), amphibious transport docks Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) and Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD-29), as well as the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Paul Ignatius (DDG0-117), Delbert D. Black (DDG-119), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123), and the Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125).