LHA 6 / LHX / LHA(R)
On 15 June 2006 Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS),
Pascagoula, Miss., was awarded a $20,378,352 modification under
previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-2221) to exercise a
cost-plus-fixed-fee option for special studies and procurement of
additional long lead-time material, in support of LHA 6 ship
construction. The LHA(R) will replace the LHA 1 Class amphibious
assault ships and will provide forward presence and power
projection as an integral part of joint, interagency and
multinational maritime expeditionary forces. The LHA(R) Flight 0
Ship will be a variant of the LHD 8 amphibious assault ship
currently being built by NGSS and will have enhanced aviation
capabilities. The Navy began procurement of long lead time material
for LHA 6 in Fiscal Year 2005 and the construction of LHA 6 is
scheduled to begin in Fiscal Year 2007.
LHA 6, the first ship of the LHA(R) program, will be able to
operate and support a detachment of 20+ Joint Strike Fighters. LHA
6 features several aviation capabilities enhanced beyond previous
amphibious assault ships. These include an enlarged hangar deck,
realignment and expansion of the aviation maintenance facilities, a
significant increase in available stowage for parts and support
equipment, and increased aviation fuel capacity. LHA 6 will be
multi-functional and versatile, modifying existing Command,
Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) spaces to
allow for flexible mission dependent reconfiguration. LHA 6 will
also have increased cargo magazine capacity, better survivability,
and greater service life margins. LHA 6 will use the same gas
turbine propulsion plant, zonal electrical distribution and
electric auxiliary systems being designed and built for LHD 8, the
final of the Wasp class amphibious assault ships.
The LHA(R) will replace the LHA 1 class of amphibious assault
ships, and will have the flexibility to operate in the traditional
role as the flagship for an Expeditionary Strike Group as well as
potentially playing a key role in the maritime pre-positioning
force future (MPF(F)). As the Navy's Seabasing plan matures, the
flexibility to operate with the Expeditionary Strike Group and as
part of the MPF(F) will make the LHA(R) a vital cog in the Sea
Base. LHA(R) will be a variant of the gas turbine-powered LHD 8.
The one key difference of LHA(R) from LHD 8 is that it will be an
aviation-enhanced assault ship tailored for the US Marine Corps
future Aviation Combat Element centered on the STOVL F-35B Joint
Strike Fighter and the tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey.
Source: GlobalSecurity.org