Northrop Grumman Awarded $100.4 M for Advance Procurement

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded $100.4 million by the U.S. Navy for advance procurement of long-lead time materials for San Diego (LPD 22), the sixth amphibious transport dock ship in the transformational San Antonio class LPD 17 program. "We are heartened to see a commitment to the sixth ship of the San Antonio class," said Dr. Philip A. Dur, Northrop Grumman corporate vice president and president of the company's Ship Systems sector.

Long-lead materials for LPD 22 consist of steel plates and shapes, pipe, cable and other major equipment. Advance procurement funding is necessary to secure all necessary ship equipment at the best possible purchase price prior to construction. To date, the first five ships awarded in the 12-ship LPD 17 program are under contract to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. All are in various stages of construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' locations in New Orleans, and Pascagoula and Gulfport, Miss. The first ship, San Antonio (LPD 17), is in New Orleans and scheduled for sea trials and delivery later this year. New Orleans (LPD 18), also under construction in New Orleans, is approximately 50 percent complete, and Mesa Verde (LPD 19), under construction in Pascagoula, is approximately 45 percent complete. LPD 18 and 19 are scheduled for launching and christening this fall. Green Bay (LPD 20) is approximately 15 percent complete, and start of construction began on New York (LPD 21) earlier this year. New York had 24 tons of steel from the south tower of the World Trade Center cast into its bowstem, the leading edge of the ship. Both New York and Green Bay are under construction in New Orleans. The LPD 17 amphibious transport dock ships are 208.4 meters (684 feet) long and 31.9 meters (105 feet) wide and will replace the functions of the LPD 4, LSD 36, LKA 113, and LDT 1179 classes of amphibious ships. The ships' mission is to embark, transport and land elements of a landing force in an assault by helicopters, landing craft and amphibious vehicles to conduct an expeditionary warfare mission. Technological and design advances, including the insertion of lightweight, durable composites make the LPD 17 class the most sophisticated and survivable amphibious ship ever produced and marks a transformational change in advanced expeditionary warfighting.