Shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls announced at 5:11 pm today that it has settled a $2.38 billion contract to build LHA-7, the Tripoli, the second amphibious assault ship of the new America class (pictured), at its Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi -- and it's a fixed-price contract. That's a major achievement for acquisition reformers but a significant risk for the contractor.
Harriers, Yankee/Zulu helos, New heavy helicopter, MV-22. And, don't count on the F-35B Just So Failed.
And, viewing the Libya campaign (low threat) as some kind of pattern of success because no aircraft carriers were used, is not too bright. I can see a nasty surprise leaving a lot of dead sailors and marines if that thought is taken too far.
2 comments:
Not a bad haircut off the original estimate. Congrats to the USN!
While the builder might not actually make any money off this build after all said and done (taking a big gamble on this), at least the 'process' itself seems to be taking a baby step forward in the maturing decision making and planning test, which clearly needs to take sustainable strategy and affordability into mind from here on out.
Now what would be interesting too, would be if Navy could figure out how to possibly outsource special modular configurations for the $185m JHSV hull and supplant additional buys of that ship in place of $500m+ LCS!
Would be cool if they could develop a 45m sized AIP sub to fit in the dry well and take to area of operation for fleet force protection.
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