MERIDIAN —
PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi officials are celebrating a newly announced $1.5 billion contract awarded to Huntington Ingalls Industries for design and construction of an amphibious transport dock LPD 27 ship, to be built at the company's Ingalls Shipbuilding division.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus informed members of the Mississippi congressional delegation Friday afternoon of the new contact, according to The Sun-Herald (http://bit.ly/QSqJvl). Work is expected to be completed by June 2017, according to the Department of Defense.
Sen. Thad Cochran said he's pleased that shipbuilders in Mississippi are getting the work. Sen. Roger Wicker, as the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower subcommittee, said the amphibious ships give a decisive advantage to U.S. sailors and Marines.
"As our military strategy focuses increasingly on the Pacific region, supplying our Navy with these amphibious assault ships has never been more crucial," said Congressman Steven Palazzo, member of the House Armed Services' Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces.
"This contract validates our proven performance in building amphibious ships," Doug Lounsberry, vice president of the company's LPD program, said in a news release. "Our shipbuilders have the necessary and unique skills to build these extremely complex warships and meet all Navy expectations. These ships are vital to our nation's defense, and we are working safely and efficiently to ensure American sailors and Marines have the best product to defend our freedom."
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