Ingalls Shipbuilding gets $1.3bn to build new San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock

The US Navy has signed a contract with Ingalls Shipbuilding to design and build the San Antonio-class LPD-32 amphibious transport dock. This comes a few weeks after the Marine Corps and the US Navy began debating the cost.

Here's What We Know

The cost of the contract was $1.3 billion. The San Antonio-class ship will cost $1.54 billion. Ingalls Shipbuilding received an additional $240 million from the US Navy early last summer to procure long lead time materials.

In reality, the cost of the ship will be even higher, as the US Navy will purchase some systems separately. The LPD-32 could end up costing $1.9 billion to $2 billion, meaning it would be more expensive than other San Antonio-class ships.

Spokeswoman Kimberly Aguillard said Ingalls Shipbuilding was trying to keep costs stable. The LPD-28 was ordered in 2016 for $1.47bn and seven years later the LPD-32 was agreed for $1.54bn, a cost increase of less than 5%.

The US Navy's budget documents for fiscal year 2024 state that $1.5bn, $1.53bn and $1.56bn, respectively, are to be allocated for the construction of LPD-30, LPD-31 and LPD-32 ships. The total cost including additional equipment will rise by $330-360 million.

LPD-32 will be the 16th ship of the San Antonio class and the third in the Flight II configuration. Work will be completed by September 2029. It is possible that rising costs will force the Pentagon to cut the production line and look for more cost-effective ways to get amphibious transport dock.

Source: Defence News