No LPD-29 mention in Navy budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After rolling out FY 2018’s budget request, it’s not clear whether the Navy will use its $1.8 billion FY-17 appropriations to buy a 13th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship (LPD-17) or move on to the “Next-Gen” LX(R) dock landing ship. Huntington Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., has the contract for the LPD-17 class. CNO Adm. John Richardson said Navy is committed to keeping the transition on track. The LPD-17 class had been set to end at 11 ships (LPD-27), and a design inspiration for the LX(R) replacement, but decided Ingalls needed to keep a hot production line. Monies were added for LPD-28 (FY-15/16) and LPD-29 (FY-17). But the Navy’s newest budget rollout made no mention of that 13th ship. CNO tried to right the seemingly amphib ships’ disconnect. DOD had instructed the Navy to “consolidate the foundation … and then look for the strategic review” this summer. “Right now, we’re still looking at a requirement for more of those amphibious ships,” he said. The Navy has five years to spend the $1.8B for LPD-29. CNO confirmed that the industrial base – Ingalls Shipbuilding as the sole amphib builder – is “capable of building more ships, it’s just a matter of the resources.” Production breaks are also going to be a concern for the Littoral Combat Ship-to-frigate transition for the Navy and potentially Austal USA Shipyard in Mobile, Ala. Austal USA currently builds the Independence class all-aluminum hull LCS. (Source: U.S. Naval Institute News 05/24/17)