San Diego-based shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO, which already has a large design-build contract with the U.S. Navy, is receiving more military work, the company announced Aug. 5.
NASSCO has received a $1.4 billion contract with the Navy to build a sixth Expeditionary Sea Base ship (ESB 8) and two more John Lewis-class fleet oilers (T-AO 211 and 212).
The award comes in addition to $600 million already received to procure long-lead time materials for the same ships. The contract modification also provides an option for the Navy to procure an additional oiler, T-AO 213, bringing the total potential value to $2.7 billion for the four ships.
“NASSCO is committed to working together with the Navy to deliver these much needed ships to the fleet,” General Dynamics NASSCO President Dave Carver said. “As partners with the Navy, we remain dedicated to ensuring the success of both of these programs to help enhance and expand the Navy’s forward presence and warfighting capabilities while providing sustained growth for our workforce.”
Construction of the four ships is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2023 and continue into 2027.
In 2011, the Navy awarded NASSCO with a contract to design and build the first two ships in the newly created Mobile Landing Platform program, USNS Montford Point and USNS John Glenn. The program evolved, adding USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), the future USS John L. Canley (ESB 6) and the future USS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7), configured as ESBs.
ESB ships are highly flexible platforms designed to support multiple maritime-based missions, including air mine counter measures, special operations forces and limited crisis response.
Acting as a mobile sea base, the 784-foot ESBs have a 52,000 square-foot flight deck to support MH-53, MH-60, MV-22 tilt-rotor, and H1 aircraft operations. The future USS John L. Canley (ESB 6) and USS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7) are currently under construction.
General Dynamics NASSCO, which has facilities in San Diego, California; Norfolk, Virginia; Mayport, Florida; and Bremerton, Washington, specializes in the design and construction of Navy and commercial ships and is a major provider of repair services for the U.S. Navy.