The U.S. Navy will receive the first America-class landing ship that can accommodate the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets

The US Navy is preparing to commission another amphibious assault ship. It is named USS Bougainville (LHA 8) and was launched a few days ago.

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The US Department of Defence is preparing for future challenges, including a possible war with China. As part of the preparations, the U.S. Navy will receive a new multi-purpose landing ship, USS Bougainville (LHA 8), which is being built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi.

The new ship is equipped with AN/SPY-6 active phased array radar. The radar can track multiple targets simultaneously. The strength of the station is the ability to detect low-observable targets.

An important feature of the USS Bougainville (LHA 8) is the ability to accommodate fifth-generation F-35B Lightning II short takeoff and vertical landing fighters on deck. This is something neither America (LHA 6) nor Tripoli (LHA 7), the other two America-class ships, can boast.

Construction of the USS Bougainville (LHA 8) began nearly five years ago. Ingalls Shipbuilding plans to complete work on the ship on time, despite a fire that occurred earlier this summer.

Source: HII