Sens. Wicker, Hyde-Smith tout Huntington Ingalls, Navy contract

U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) are touting the benefits of the Navy awarding a $70.8 million contract to Huntington Ingalls to purchase materials for construction of the LHA 9 ship, an America-class amphibious assault craft.

The ship will be built in Pascagoula, Miss.

“Huntington Ingalls and its talented shipbuilders continue to work hard on behalf of our Sailors and Marines to build the next generation of Navy ships,” Wicker said. “I am glad to see Ingalls receive the funding it needs to continue building LHA 9 and ensuring our Navy remains the best in the world.”

The assault ships are designed to deliver a Marine Expeditionary Unit via a rotary lift and fixed-wing aircraft, functioning similarly to a smaller aircraft carrier.

“Long-lead-time contracts allow the Navy to get more bang for the buck by being able to plan in advance for new ship construction,” Hyde-Smith said. “These successive contracts mean our Mississippi shipbuilders will have the materials needed to proceed with construction of this new amphibious assault ship.”

The Navy awarded a $113.6 million in November for the LHA 9.