The U.S. Navy just handed over a sweet deal worth up to $286.8 million to a company called HII, which is all about keeping the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships shipshape. Yeah, it’s a big ol’ cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-plus-award-fee contract, and it starts with a cool $30.9 million. If they decide to exercise all the options, the total value can really climb up there. Like, you could probably build a small island with that cash!
Now, what’s HII gonna do with all that?
Well, they’re stepping in to provide some post-delivery support and engineering wizardry for the Navy’s fleet. And here’s the kicker: HII is the same crew that built these badass San Antonio-class ships, which don’t mess around. They come loaded with Bushmaster II cannons, some fancy missile launchers, and even support for helicopters like the CH-46 Sea Knight. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of naval vessels!
These ships aren’t just for show; they’re designed for all sorts of action, whether that’s launching amphibious attacks or helping out during humanitarian crises. Picture this: a ship rolling in coolly to help after a hurricane—seriously, how amazing is that?
The work is set to go down primarily in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Norfolk, Virginia, and it could keep on rolling through December 2030 if all goes well. That’s a long-term gig, perfect if you’re a fan of steady employment!
As for how many of these bad boys the Navy has, HII has actually delivered 13 of them so far. The first one, the USS San Antonio, made its debut back in 2005. Oh, and you know how they say good things come in threes? Well, in September 2024, HII scored a deal to build three more San Antonio-class ships, officially named LPD 33, LPD 34, and LPD 35—sounds like a new band, right? Those ships are on track to be ready by 2035.
Anyway, it’s all rather exciting stuff in the world of naval contracts and I can’t help but think, with all the cool tech and support these ships are getting, we’re in for one heck of a show on the high seas!
