LHA Replacement

The LHA Replacement program, as outlined in Budget Line Item 3041, is a major Navy shipbuilding initiative focused on the procurement of new America-class amphibious assault ships (LHA(R)) to replace the aging Tarawa-class (LHA 1) and Wasp-class (LHD 1) vessels. The primary goal of this program is to ensure the Navy's amphibious fleet remains capable of supporting expeditionary warfare and joint operations well into the 21st century. For FY 2026, the Department of the Navy requests mandatory funding for the contract award of one ship, designated LHA 10, with no discretionary funding requested for this year. This procurement supports the Navy's strategic objective of maintaining forward presence and power projection capabilities as part of joint, interagency, and multinational maritime expeditionary forces.

The LHA(R) Class Program is structured in incremental development phases, known as Flights. Flight 0, consisting of LHA 6 and LHA 7, introduced enhanced aviation capabilities to the amphibious assault ship class. Flight 1, beginning with LHA 8 and continuing with LHA 9 and LHA 10, adds a well deck for landing craft and increases flight deck capacity by modifying the ship's island and adding a sponson. These design changes enable the embarkation, deployment, and landing of Marine Landing Forces and supporting units via helicopters, tilt-rotor aircraft, and F-35B Joint Strike Fighters. The ships also accommodate two Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) vehicles for ship-to-shore movement.

The Electronics and Combat Systems on LHA(R) Flight 1 ships are a significant focus of the program's objectives. Key systems include the Command, Control, Communication, Computer Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) suite, MK 2 MOD 4E Ship Self Defense System (SSDS), Integrated Voice Network (IVN), and the AN/SLQ-32(V) Surface Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP). The Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) replaces legacy air-search radars, providing modern, long-range, three-dimensional surveillance and air intercept control.

The AN/SPN-50 Shipboard Air Traffic Radar (SATR) system and Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) enhance aircraft approach, landing, and airspace management capabilities, supporting both manned and unmanned platforms.

The Ordnance and Defensive Systems integrated into the LHA(R) ships include the NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System (NSSMS) MK 57 Mod 14, MK31 Mod 3 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM), and the PHALANX Block 1B MK15 Mod 21 & 22 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS). These systems are designed to provide layered self-defense against air, surface, and subsurface threats, including anti-ship missiles and aircraft. Additional systems such as the Vertical/Stationary Take-Off Landing Optical Landing System (VSTOL OLS) and AN/SPQ-9B Radar Set contribute to the ship's ability to support aviation operations and maintain situational awareness in littoral environments.

The Hull, Mechanical, and Electrical (HM&E) Systems are also a critical component of the LHA(R) program. These include equipment and engineering services, shipyard material and services, and test and instrumentation necessary for ship construction and operation. Advance procurement funding is used to purchase long lead time materials (LLTM) such as deck edge elevator machinery, steering gear, diesel generators, main reduction gear, oily waste ultrafiltration systems, air conditioning chilled water plants, and electrical switchboards. This ensures production schedules are maintained and ship delivery timelines are met.

The Production and Delivery Schedule for LHA(R) ships is managed by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), the designated shipbuilder. The contract award for LHA 10 is planned for FY 2026, with construction and delivery schedules based on performance indicators and shipyard labor availability. The program incorporates lessons learned from previous ships (LHA 8 and LHA 9) to optimize construction timelines and address labor challenges. Outfitting and post-delivery activities are budgeted separately to ensure the ship is fully operational upon delivery.