BAE Systems has received a $ 90.2 million contract from the U.S. Navy for the maintenance and modernization of the San Diego-class amphibious assault dock ship.
As reported by Mil.Press FLOT with reference to Naval News, taking into account the implementation of all options, the amount of work may increase to $ 104.8 million.
According to the agreement, BAE Systems will provide work on the landing ship in the dry dock: repair the underwater part of the hull and ballast tanks, upgrade the living quarters for the crew and marines. Repairs are expected to begin in September 2021 at the company's San Diego shipyard and last for more than a year.
"The upcoming refit is an important event in the ship's life," said David M. Thomas, Jr., vice president of the BAE Systems Shipyard in San Diego. "As a result, the San Diego will have new capabilities and will be able to continue to perform naval missions for many years to come."
The San Diego is the sixth San Antonio-class landing dock ship in service since May 2012. It has a displacement of 24,900 tons, a hull length of 208 meters, and a width of 32 meters. Speed – 22 knots. The crew consists of 360 permanent personnel. The ship is equipped with a universal vertical launcher Mk. 41, designed to launch ESSM anti-aircraft missiles, as well as a RAM air defense system and two 30-mm Bushmaster artillery launchers.
It can accommodate more than 700 Marines, 14 amphibious armored vehicles and two amphibious hovercraft. The ship's air wing includes CH-53E Super Stallion, CH-46 Sea Knights, UH-1Y Venom (or AH-1J Sea Cobra) helicopters, and MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
The San Antonio-class ships are designed to transport marine expeditionary units to the theater of operations. They must provide support to these units in combat conditions for at least 30 days.
BAE Systems is considered one of the leading contractors of the US Navy for the repair, maintenance and modernization of ships and vessels. The San Diego shipyard has more than 1,100 employees. Earlier, in the period from 2019 to 2020, the company upgraded another ship of the San Antonio class-the Anchorage.