The Navy is preparing to award an estimated $11.5 billion multi-ship deal to build four amphibious warships, according to a copy of a Tuesday Navy notification to Congress reviewed by USNI News.
According to the Aug. 14 notification, the Department of the Navy will purchase three San Antonio class Flight II amphibious warships and a Flight I America-class big deck amphibious warship starting in Fiscal Year 2025 to 2027 as part of a “multi-ship procurement,” authorized as part of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
“The ships procured as part of this contract will support amphibious assault, special operations, and expeditionary warfare missions of U.S. Marines, moving Marines into theater and supporting humanitarian and contingency missions on short notice,” reads the notification from Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro.
“This amphibious MSP award demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to maintaining 31 amphibious warfare ships and prudence with taxpayer funds.”
Politico first reported the notification on Wednesday.
Tables provided to Congress by the Navy said LPD-33 would be procured in FY 2025 for an estimated $2.2 billion, LPD-34 in FY 2027 for $2.3 billion and LPD-35 in FY 2029 for $2.4 billion. The deal would also purchase Flight I America-class big deck, Helmand Province (LHA-10), for $4.6 billion.
Overall, the Navy estimated that the multi-year ship buy would save a combined $901 million, or about 7.25 percent, of the cost of the four-ship deal.
The ships will be built at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss.
A company spokesperson did not answer specific questions on the deal when asked by USNI News but did issue a statement.
“We defer to the Navy regarding multi-ship procurement discussions. However, we reiterate our commitment to supporting the mission and the joint Navy and Marine Corps team by meeting the minimum requirement of 31 amphibious ships,” reads the statement.
“Our shipbuilders stand ready to serve the nation.”
The move received praise from the shipbuilding delegation in Congress.
“Today is a great day for American shipbuilding and our Navy’s ability to deter China in the years ahead,” reads a statement from Senate Armed Services seapower committee ranking member Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). “The multi-ship buy of warships is a cost-effective way to provide stability for the industrial base on key shipbuilding programs.
The notification to Congress marks the end of a “strategic pause” in amphibious warship construction mandated by the Office of Secretary of Defense and in a reversal of the Navy’s former plans to shutter the San Antonio line, USNI News previously reported.
“Certification of the Amphibious Multi-Ship Procurement contract award demonstrates the Navy’s support for maintaining 31 amphibious warfare ships, and if awarded, would provide American taxpayers with significant savings,” reads a statement from the Navy.
As part of its Fiscal Year 2023 budget, the Navy had made moves to end the San Antonio line at LPD-32. The move roiled shipbuilding interests in Congress and split the Navy and Marine Corps over how many amphibious ships the Marines needed to meet their requirements.
Eventually, the Navy and Marines agreed on a baseline of 31 amphibious ships to support ongoing Marine Expeditionary Unit deployments as well as surge capacity in the event of a major conflict.
The deal’s announcement follows delivery of the first Flight II San Antonio USS Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD-29) to the Navy earlier this year. Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD-29) is the first Flight II San Antonio that will feature a variant of the AN/SPY-6 air and missile defense radar.
In terms of amphibious ships, Ingalls Shipbuilding is under contract for San Antonio-class ships Harrisburg (LPD-30), Pittsburgh (LPD-31) and Philadelphia (LPD-32) The yard is also building amphibs Bougainville (LHA-8), and Fallujah (LHA-9).
Shipbuilders and suppliers have long called for serial production of ships to better predict workforce and material costs.
“We are thrilled to see lawmakers, the Navy and Marine Corps listen to our concerns and reach this deal, which will provide the predictable funding that our suppliers urgently need. Not only will this block buy save the taxpayers nearly $1 billion, but it will provide over 650 companies across 39 states with the stability we need to invest in our skilled workforce, get ahead of inflation and ensure on time deliveries,” reads a statement from Amphibious Warship Industrial Base Coalition provided to USNI News.
