BAE Systems has received a $149.8 million contract from the US Navy to carry out maintenance and modernisation work on the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, according to the company.
The firm-fixed-price contract announced on 26 August covers a Selected Restricted Availability for the ship at Naval Base San Diego, with the overall value potentially rising to $180 million if all available options are exercised. BAE Systems said the work will include a combination of modernisation, maintenance and repair activity on the 40,000-tonne amphibious assault ship.
Eric Icke, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Maritime Solutions San Diego, said: “Critical maintenance of the USS Boxer will support the U.S. Navy’s vital mission to continue defending our nation.” He added: “I look forward to our highly skilled team delivering unmatched capacity, precision, and performance for our customer.”
USS Boxer, hull number LHD 4, is the fourth member of the US Navy’s Wasp class of large-deck amphibious assault ships. The vessels are designed to embark Marines, landing craft, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft in support of amphibious operations.
The class can operate a mix of aircraft from its full-length flight deck, while a floodable well deck provides space for landing craft and other amphibious vehicles. Wasp-class ships have also operated AV-8B Harriers, MV-22B Ospreys and other aircraft during US Navy and Marine Corps deployments. The Selected Restricted Availability will be carried out at Naval Base San Diego, where Boxer is homeported. Such availabilities are scheduled maintenance periods used by the US Navy to conduct repairs, upgrades and alterations while returning ships to the material condition required for further operational service.
BAE Systems operates a ship repair facility in San Diego alongside its other American shipyard operations in Florida and Virginia. The company provides ship repair, maintenance, conversion, overhaul and modernisation services for the US Navy and other government customers. Its San Diego operation supports ships assigned to the Pacific Fleet and has previously undertaken maintenance periods on amphibious ships, destroyers and other surface vessels based on the US West Coast.
USS Boxer entered service in 1995 and has subsequently deployed in support of US military operations in the Pacific, Middle East and other regions. The ship is designed around an amphibious task force role and can carry a Marine Expeditionary Unit together with aviation, landing craft, vehicles and supporting equipment.
At more than 250 metres long, the ship has a flight deck extending across most of its length and an internal hangar for embarked aircraft. Its well deck allows landing craft to enter and depart through the stern while the vessel is at sea. The $149.8 million award is firm-fixed-price at its initial value, with BAE Systems saying additional contract options could increase the total to approximately $180 million.
The work will be undertaken by the company’s Maritime Solutions operation in San Diego as USS Boxer enters its scheduled maintenance and modernisation period at Naval Base San Diego.
Three of these would have been ideal replacements for the Invincibles, make it six and the assault ships could have been sold to Brazil without any remorse.
Imagine the benefits of that scale and availability!
I like your thinking DIMWIT, but the uniparty would never let our forces have anything this good.
Power it with gas turbines (like the last one in the class), replace the forward sea sparrow launcher with Cam. Keep the Ram and Phalanx. Possibly fit more Cam starboard aft, after moving the position of the Phalanx that was in that position.
We would have a very capable ship that actually had the means to defend itself.