HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding has expanded its distributed shipbuilding model to the US Navy’s amphibious transport dock program, starting with the future USS Philadelphia (LPD 32).
The company said modular construction for the ship is already underway, with eight structural units assigned to two industry partners. The move extends a manufacturing approach that Ingalls has already used on the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer program.
Ingalls said distributing portions of ship construction to partner shipyards allows multiple sections of a vessel to be built simultaneously while its Pascagoula, Mississippi, facility focuses on final assembly, integration, and testing.
“Expanding distributed shipbuilding into the LPD program is a critical step in scaling capacity to meet rising fleet demand,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette said.
The LPD class is designed to transport marines, landing craft, aircraft, and equipment for amphibious assault, humanitarian assistance, and expeditionary operations. Ingalls is the sole builder of the San Antonio-class ships for the US Navy.
Ingalls Shipbuilding’s US Footprint
The distributed shipbuilding expansion follows several major US Navy awards to Ingalls Shipbuilding as the service continues modernizing its surface fleet.
In April, the service awarded Ingalls a $283-million contract to begin lead yard support for the future FF(X) frigate program, providing engineering and technical services as the service develops its next class of guided-missile frigates.
Earlier, in March, Ingalls authenticated the keel of the 16th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock in Mississippi. The company also completed builder’s sea trials for the USS Zumwalt.
