LPD Flight II winks on The Hill

CAPITOL HILL – The Navy and Marine Corps is trying to figure out whether to make the San Antonio-class LPD Flight II, and other ships, larger and more lethal for the near-future fleet. Navy leaders testified at two hearings with the Senate Armed Services Committee last week to address multiple ship classes for current and future operations. The Navy announced its LX(R) effort to replace the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ships (LSD 41-49) would be formally named LPD Flight II. LX(R)’s design will be based on the San Antonio-class amphib (LPD-17), which was built at Huntington Ingalls’ shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. In one ASC session, two questions arose: How quickly can the Navy buy the ships; and how lethal can the Navy make them? During an April 19 hearing, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) asked Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller about the role of amphibs. In the midst of answering, Wicker posed: “What if we put the vertical launch system (VLS) on the Flight II LPDs?” The commandant: “I think that’s a great idea.” Then Wicker turned to SECNAV Richard Spencer and asked if he agreed. “Most definitely,” Spencer chimed. After the hearing, Spencer told USNI News that the VLS idea was only one being considered. LCS’ over-the-horizon missile competition is still ongoing. The missile selected may be one option for the LPD Flight II program for commonality. Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition James Geurts said about the LPD Flight II acquisition plan: “It’s a derivative design, so that will be a high-confidence acquisition.” LPD 30 would be the first of the Flight II ships. The first 13 LPDs were bought one at a time. With the design proven and stable, HII-Pascagoula may be in a strong position to negotiate a multi-ship buy. (Source: USNI News 04/20/18)