Ingalls’ LPD Flight II program vendor base consists of more than 600 manufacturers and suppliers in 39 states, including 387 small businesses. More than 1,500 shipbuilders work on each LPD. Ingalls has delivered 11 San Antonio-class ships to the Navy, and it has three more under construction.
“In building this 15th LPD, Ingalls experienced shipbuilders will continue this hot production line of great amphibious warships for our Navy/Marine Corps team. We are all proud to be building these great ships, and will continue to deliver the most survivable and affordable ships possible for our customers and our nation.”
Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias
Ingalls Shipbuilding launched the future USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) last week. It is the 12th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship for the U.S. Navy. It features a number of modifications compared to earlier ships of the class. For example it is fitted with a simple mast (similar to the DDG 51 class mast) in place of the “stealth mast” design, for affordability reasons. Ingalls Shipbuilding is also in production on the future USS Richard M. McCool (LPD 29) and Harrisburg (LPD 30). LPD 28 and 29 will serve as transition ships to LPD 30, the first LPD 17 Flight II ship.
The San Antonio class is a major part of the Navy’s 21st century amphibious assault force. The 684-foot-long, 105-foot-wide ships are used to embark and land Marines, their equipment and supplies ashore via air cushion or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles, augmented by helicopters or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey. The ships support a Marine Air Ground Task Force across the spectrum of operations, conducting amphibious and expeditionary missions of sea control and power projection to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions throughout the first half of the 21st century.
