The US Navy gave Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) the contract to construct and design a fourth America class Landing Helicopter Assault ship.

The deal's total cost for HII is $2.4-billion to be added to the current cost of the amphibious assault ship.

Huntington Ingalls Industries Gets US Navy Contract 

This nameless ship will include a well deck for deploying and recovering other naval vehicles, improving the fleet's potential for special operations warfighting, reported Defense Post.

HII President Kari Wilkinson asserts that the firm is prepared to construct the Navy's latest amphibious ship and emphasizes the significance of the venture for bolstering USN's abilities. It plays a crucial role in an amphibious task force, expeditionary strike group, or amphibious ready group.

Vessels of this class are created to boost Marine Corps aerospace as they could provide required assistance for the tilt-rotor MV-22 Ospreys and the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter.

Furthermore, the large-deck amphibious attack vessels have top-of-the-line healthcare centers for hurt sailors. Ships of this class include the USS American, Tripoli, and Bougainville, one serving in the US naval fleet, and a fourth America-class Landing Helicopter Assault ship coming soon.

Textron Aerosonde Drone as part of USS Miguel Keith Missions

The US Navy has granted Textron Systems a $22-million contract to utilize its Aerosonde unmanned aerial system (UAS) to support the USS Miguel Keith's seafaring expeditions.

The five-year deal guarantees the US Navy's Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB-5) warship augmented operational support through Aerosonde's longer-range intelligence, monitoring, and intelligence gathering (IRS) offerings.

To offer additional mission support, the firm will also send a few of its representatives to collaborate with the US Navy Air Systems Command crew of the United States Navy.

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Textron Senior Vice President Wayne Prender said it is a fee-for-service arrangement that will enable the Navy to continue expanding its shipboard ISR requirements while aiding with current real-world operations.

He discussed the advantages already felt by the DDG and ESB-class ships and further service optimization to provide the best operational and logistical capabilities for HII customers. They are in high demand to complete their tasks and stay safe. By 2023, the following year, the company's UAV is anticipated to begin operations on the USS Miguel Keith.

The USS Miguel Keith becomes the fourth US Navy vessel to acquire Aerosonde UAS assistance from Textron. A firm was selected to provide operational support to the USS Hershel "Woody" Williams in 2018, and in June of this year, it received an additional $18,3 million to continue the support. The company claimed that the company improved two unknown guided missile destroyers.

USS Miguel Keith

The USS Miguel Keith is the third ESB ship inaugurated last May 2021, according to the US Navy. 

Expeditionary Sea Base ships are extremely configurable platforms recognized for crucial logistical support movement from sea to shore to strengthen the US Navy's wide range of military activities.

 According to the US Navy, ESBs, including a four-spot flight deck, mission deck, and hangar, have been designed around four key competencies: aerospace facilities, anchorages, equipment organizing support, and central command resources.

The US Navy gave Huntington Ingalls Industries; the signal to build and design the fourth America class Landing Helicopter Assault ship. But in comparison to Chinese shipbuilding, that is different.

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