LPD-30 LPD Flight II Landing Ship, Dock

The LPD Flight II program, which will replace the fleet’s aging Whidbey Island-class dock landing ships (LSD-41/49) with an iteration of the much more capable San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock.

Funding for LPD 28 would also serve as a bridge to the next generation of amphibious warships, the LX(R). General James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, expressed support in December 2013 for the San Antonio-class amphibious warship, LPD 28, to be the platform of choice for LX(R) when he stated, “We have an LPD hull right now which is one of the most successful hulls we have. There are years and years of time and effort that have gone into that LPD. That is as fine of an amphibious warship that has ever sailed the seas. The LPD, from my perspective, just makes sense.”

Huntington Ingalls argues that LPD Flight II is the proven solution for the next generation amphibious transport dock. Flight II is a capable variant of the amphibious transport dock LPD 17. Utilizing the LPD 17's proven hull, Flight II is adaptable and can be tailored for specific mission payloads as well as command and decision requirements. LPD Flight II is the affordable, capable, adaptable and survivable next generation amphibious ship, a suitable replacement to the Harpers Ferry and Whidbey Island classes of dock landing ships.

Huntington Ingalls argues that Flight II offers the opportunity for uncommon affordability in a new class of ships by using the LPD 17 Class as the baseline for LSD replacement ships. Flight II avoids growing pains that accompany the introduction of a new ship design to save costs and shorten time to delivery. Building on a legacy of proven equipment and systems, Flight II maintains commonality with existing fleet assets to provide added value by capitalizing on existing logistics support, crew training and knowledge base for sailors and marines.

Huntington Ingalls argues that based upon the proven LPD 17 platform, Flight II is an adaptable, capable ship ready to perform all aspects of amphibious warfare using landing craft or air assets. It's inherent design margins enable tailoring the platform for a wide range of mission capabilities. Flight II builds on the investment and legacy of survivability designed into the LPD 17 class ships.

LPD Flight II revises the configuration of the LPD 17 Class Ship's proven baseline design to provide adaptable space and weight for a full range of future mission requirements and payloads. Flight II is a cost-effective alternative to a new unproven design.

How is Flight II different than LPD 17?

• Flight II reduces troop capacity from 800 to 500. This reduction leads to the elimination or modification to associated spaces such as habitability, work spaces, stores, etc.
• Medical facilities such as wards and operating rooms are reduced by 50 percent.
• The helicopter hangar and associated aviation workspaces and storage are eliminated.
• The MK 46 30mm gun weapon system is replaced with a MK 38 Mod 2 remote controlled 25mm chain gun providing offensive and defensive ability.
• RCS features on masts, bulwarks and boat stations are eliminated topside and internal CPS zones are reduced from five to one.
• The mission of the ship to serve as an amphibious command and control platform is eliminated and associated equipment is deleted.
• The AN/SPS-48E air search radar is replaced with a TRS-3D which is currently outfitted on the National Security Cutter providing a more suitable sensor for its mission.
• Cooperative engagement is eliminated.

What's the same as LPD 17?

• Hull form and machinery spaces
• Overall ship dimensions.
• Passageway width
• Arrangement of inclined ladders for ease of access
• Co-location of armories with troop berthing
• Overall high quality of life aboard
• Weapons capability
• Flight deck fueling capacity and helicopter control station maintained

The Fiscal Year 2020 budget request included a third Virginia-class attack submarine, delaying the start of the LPD Flight II amphibious warship program. LPD Flight II was supposed to start with the lead ship in 2020 and then go into serial production in 2022. Instead, the FY 2020 budget request showed a single ship in 2021 and a single ship in 2023.