U.S. Navy has finalized a long-pending $9. 6 billion contracts with Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) to build four amphibious warships in order to maintain readiness for amphibious warfare. Between fiscal years 2025 and 2029, three amphibious transport docks of the San Antonio class and one amphibious assault ship of the America class are expected to be delivered as part of this agreement.

This contract, years in the making, is part of a “block buy” strategy, a procurement method used to save costs by purchasing multiple ships under one agreement. U.S. Navy experts estimate that this bulk purchasing mechanism could save the service approximately $1 billion compared to buying the ships one at a time. The block-buy also allows HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding, located in Mississippi, to better plan its production and workforce, ensuring job stability in the region.

“The importance of this multiple amphibious ship purchase cannot be overstated with respect to our whole-of-government effort to restore the maritime capabilities of the United States, This purchase sends a steady demand signal to our shipbuilding industrial base that our Navy is actively investing in our shipbuilding infrastructure”

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro

These warships are extremely vital for the U.S. Navy’s capability to project power, crisis management, and extend humanitarian aid. The new vessels will support amphibious assaults, special operations, and expeditionary warfare, enable U.S. Navy Force to remain agile and capable of responding to a variety of sea threats around the world. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro has underlined that maintaining a mission-ready amphibious force is essential to U.S. national security. The four new ships will not only replace aging vessels but also allow the U.S. Navy to continue meeting its operational requirements, including forward deployments in contested regions like the South China Sea.

What is included in the U.S. Navy’s $9.4 billion Contract?

The $9.4 billion contract includes three San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks—LPD-33 (expected in FY25), LPD-34 (FY27), and LPD-35 (FY29)—and one America-class amphibious assault ship, LHA-10, planned for FY27. The San Antonio-class ships are part of a multi-ship procurement agreement, while the America-class amphibious assault ship comes through a contract modification. These ships are essential for amphibious operations, supporting U.S. Navy & U.S. Marine Corps missions.

Lawmakers and military officials have expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in obtaining this contract. The agreement has been in limbo for a number of years due to financial restrictions and political disagreements over defense expenditures. Though the deal was not officially signed until 2024, Congress had previously given the U.S. Navy permission to pursue a multi-ship amphibious vessel purchase.

Additionally, the contract gives the U. S. much-needed stability in its shipbuilding sector especially at Ingalls Shipbuilding at HII. For many years the shipyard—which has thousands of employees—has been an important collaborator in the building of amphibious ships. By completing this deal, Ingalls can continue to run at maximum efficiency with sustaining employment and boosting Mississippi’s local economy.

In the broader context of U.S. Navy’s Battle & Conflict strategy, this agreement is seen as an important step in sustaining maritime dominance. With the rising threat of peer competitors like China and Russia, the Navy’s strength to project power globally is profound. This contract aligns with the U.S. Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Navigation Plan, ensuring readiness for future conflicts, particularly with China, by enhancing amphibious capabilities.

Amphibious ships, which can transport and deploy U.S. Marines and their equipment, play a crucial role in this capability. Their scope of diverse use allows US Navy to operate in a plethora of scenarios, from full-scale combat to humanitarian missions.