HII awarded $1.4B for new amphibious transport dock for U.S. Navy

Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries has been awarded a $1.43 billion contract to design and build the U.S. Navy's newest amphibious transport dock, LPD 29.

LPD 29 is a San Antonio-class warship designed to transport and land combat vehicles. The ship will be the 13th LPD constructed by Huntington Ingalls -- the company has already delivered 11 of the ships to the Navy, and the 12th is currently under construction.

"This contract is further recognition of the confidence the Navy/Marine Corps team has in the great work our shipbuilders are doing in the LPD program," Brian Cuccias, president of Huntington Ingalls' shipbuilding operations, said in a news release.

"This efficient work is proven through our hot production line keeping the work going in the shipyard and through our nationwide network of suppliers," Cuccias said. "We are excited to build this additional ship and in providing our sailors and Marines with the best amphibious ships in the world."

The LPD ships measure 684 feet in length and are 105 feet wide.

"Amphibious transport dock ships are warships that embark, transport and land elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions," according to the U.S. Navy.

The agreement between HII and the U.S. Navy comes under a modification to a fixed-price-incentive modification to a previously awarded contract.

More than $1.2 billion has been obligated to HII at the time of the contract award from fiscal 2017 Navy shipbuilding and conversion funds and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The majority of the design and construction work will take place in Pascagoula, Miss., the location of Huntington Ingalls' headquarters. The ship's construction is scheduled to be completed by July 2023.