Northrop Grumman, PASCAGOULA: Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a $2.49 billion U.S. Navy shipbuilding contract for the construction and further development of two San Antonio (LPD 17)-class ships. The contract is for the construction of two new amphibious transport dock ships, LPD 22 and LPD 23, as well as the purchase of long-lead materials and equipment for a third ship, LPD 24.
“This contract demonstrates the U.S. Navy's confidence in our shipbuilders' capabilities to design and build the most complex and innovative platforms for our nation's defense,” said Philip A. Teel, president of Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems sector. “We have made remarkable process and quality improvements in the building of these extraordinary ships. We intend to build these new ships in less time and at reduced cost. This class of amphibious ships offers today's and tomorrow's sailors and Marines unmatched capability to perform their missions. Our skilled and resilient shipbuilders will offer the highest quality work from stem-to-stern to honor the young men and women who will take these ships to sea.”
Current Navy plans call for Northrop Grumman to build at least nine ships in the class. Northrop Grumman delivered the first ship, USS San Antonio (LPD 17), last summer, and the ship was commissioned in January of this year. Currently, New Orleans (LPD 18), Mesa Verde (LPD 19), Green Bay (LPD 20) and New York (LPD 21) are each under contract and in various stages of construction at the company's shipyards in New Orleans, La., and Pascagoula and Gulfport, Miss. The ships under this new contract will be named San Diego (LPD 22), Anchorage (LPD 23) and Arlington (LPD 24).
The LPD 17 class, 684 feet long and 105 feet wide, will replace the functions of the LPD 4, LSD 36, LKA 113 and LDT 1179 classes of amphibious ships. This new class of ship affords the Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group with the technology and flexibility to launch and recover two amphibious Landing Craft, Air Cushions (LCAC), operate an array of rotary-wing aircraft, as well as the ability to carry and launch 14 Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles.
Technological and design advances in the LPD 17 class provide benefits such as enhanced survivability, state-of-the-art command and control capability, modernized weapons stations and enhanced ergonomics, which greatly improves quality of life at sea for the sailors and Marines. This includes “sit-up” berths that allow occupants to sleep horizontally or sit up vertically to read or write. Each berth also has 40 percent more storage space that other type berths.
The ship will have a crew of 360 officers and enlisted Navy personnel and is capable of embarking a landing force of up to 800 Marines. The ship has a navigational draft of 23 feet and displaces approximately 25,000 tons. Four turbo-charged diesels power the ship to sustained speeds of 22 knots.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With approximately 125,000 employees and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.
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