The Navy has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII] a $98 million cost-plus-fixed-fee advance procurement contract modification for long-lead materials for LPD-27, the 11th amphibious transport dock ship of the USS San Antonio (LPD-17) class, the company said yesterday.
The work, which will be conducted in Pascagoula, Miss., will include the purchase of long-lead-time materials and major equipment in support of the new ship, such as main engines and diesel generators and other equipment.
This is the second advance procurement contract for LPD-27. The first contract was awarded in October 2010.
“This contract provides means to continue our development and efficient planning to build LPD-27,” said Doug Lounsberry, vice president and program manager of the LPD program, Ingalls Shipbuilding. “It is necessary for our supply chain management so the essential equipment will be aligned and ready to effectively meet our schedule commitments with our Navy customer.”
The 11 ships of the LPD-17 class augment the Navy’s ability to project power ashore. Collectively, the ships functionally replace more than 40 ships (LPD-4, LSD-36, LKA-113 and LST-1179 classes of amphibious ships). Their main mission is to deploy the combat and support elements of Marine Expeditionary Units and brigades. The ships can carry up to 800 troops and have the capability of transporting and debarking air cushion (LCAC) or conventional landing craft, augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing aircraft such as the MV-22.