US Navy and Marine Corps face budget challenges for amphibious ships and munitions.
The US Navy has halted its pursuit of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock line due to growing costs and delays in the shipyard, according to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday. The pause on buying amphibious ships is so the Navy can perform a Battle Force Ship Assessment and Requirements Study, which will help inform amphibious ship buys and likely wrap up in the third quarter of FY 2023, and evaluate both possible cost savings and capabilities. However, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger made the case for the LPD-17 Flight II line and said a block buy acquisition strategy is the way to pursue the ships to save money.