Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division has been awarded a $2.4 billion Navy contract for the detail design and construction of amphibious assault ship LHA 9.
The award includes options, that if exercised, would bring the total value of the contract to $3.2 billion. Ingalls was awarded the original long-lead-time material contract for the fourth ship in the America-class (LHA 6) on April 30, 2020.
The America-class is a multifunctional and versatile ship that is capable of operating in a high density, multithreat environment as an integral member of an expeditionary strike group, an amphibious task force or an amphibious ready group.
Construction on LHA 9 is scheduled to begin in December.
Ingalls has a long tradition of building large-deck amphibious ships that are operated by the Navy and Marine Corps. The shipyard has delivered 15 large decks, including the Tarawa-class, LHA 1-5; the Wasp-class, LHD 1-8; and most recently the America-class, LHA 6 and LHA 7. The third of the America-class, Bougainville (LHA 8), is currently under construction.
LHA 9, like Bougainville, will retain the aviation capability of the America-class design while adding the surface assault capability of a well deck and a larger flight deck configured for F-35B Joint Strike Fighter and MV-22 Osprey aircraft. These large-deck amphibious assault ships also include top-of-the-line medical facilities with full operating suites and triage.
“Ingalls shipbuilders are ready to build the Navy’s newest LHA,” Ingalls Shipbuilding president Kari Wilkinson said in a statement announcing the contract. “We understand how important this work is and consider it an honor to be given the opportunity to deliver this capability to the fleet. We value our partnership with the Navy and all of our critical supplier partners.”
