The U.S. Navy would get $350M in fiscal 2019 funds to acquire a variant of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock under a minibus spending measure that passed the Senate on Tuesday, Defense News reported Friday.
The LPD-17 Flight II ship is designed to replace legacy dock-landing vessels used to launch amphibious vehicles onto the shore and helicopters.
The service would get $350M in additional funds to procure the Landing Helicopter Assault Ship 9, an additional $182.5M to purchase three more ship-to-shore connector vessel and $225M to buy an expeditionary fast-transport ship.
Bryan Clark, an analyst with the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and a retired submarine officer, said the congressional move to boost funding for amphibious shipbuilding efforts seeks to support the Navy’s goal to achieve a 355-ship fleet.
The minibus measure is now headed to the lower chamber for a final vote, according to the report.
