LPD San Antonio Class Amphibious Transport

The United States Navy uses a class of amphibious transport docks known as the San Antonio class, sometimes known as a "landing platform, dock" (LPD). The Austin-class LPDs (including the Cleveland and Trenton sub-classes), Newport-class tank landing ships, and Charleston-class amphibious cargo ships are all replaced by these warships. The San Antonio class was initially intended to consist of twelve ships, with an initial target price of $890 million; as constructed, its average cost is now $1.6 billion. The twelfth ship of the San Antonio class was partially funded under the Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2015. The U.S. Navy has eleven warships of this class in service as of January 2018, and two more are either being built or have been approved.

The San Antonio class was created to give the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps cutting-edge sea-based platforms that can operate with 21st-century transformational platforms like the MV-22 Osprey, the (since canceled) Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), air-cushioned landing craft (LCACs), and future methods of bringing marines ashore. With a displacement of more than 25,000 tons when fully loaded, the ship is more than 45 percent bigger than the Austin class. It can accommodate twice as many vehicles, landing craft, and aircraft but fewer troops.

The San Antonio class boasts advanced computer technology and strong survivability features. The class was created to reduce radar signature in addition to providing Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) protection from air threats. The ships are more challenging to find and target due to techniques that minimize radar cross-sections (RCS). Improved nuclear blast and fragmentation protection, as well as a shock-hardened structure, are among the aspects that increase survival. The onboard integrated systems are connected by the fiber-optic shipboard wide area network (SWAN). When newer technology becomes available, the network will make "plug and fight" configuration, updating, and replacing devices easier. Additionally, the class is equipped with sophisticated communications, command, control, and intelligence capabilities to support present and future expeditionary warfare missions.

Cost per unit: $1.2 billion