Publisher's Synopsis
The LX(R) program is a program to build a new class of 11 amphibious ships for the Navy. The Navy wants to procure the first LX(R) in FY2020. LX(R)s are to replace 12 aging Whidbey Island/Harpers Ferry (LSD-41/49) class amphibious ships, the first of which will reach age 40 in 2025. The design of the LX(R) is to be derived from the design of the Navy's San Antonio (LPD17) class amphibious ships, the 12th of which was procured in FY2016. The Navy's proposed FY2017 budget requests $6.4 million in research and development funding for the LX(R) program. Congress for FY2016 provided $29 million in additional research and development funding and $250 million in additional advance procurement (AP) funding to accelerate the procurement of the first LX(R) from FY2020 to an earlier year. Congress for FY2016 provided $29 million in additional research and development funding and $250 million in additional advance procurement (AP) funding to accelerate the procurement of the first LX(R) from FY2020 to an earlier year, so as to reduce the gap in time between the end of LPD-17 production and the start of LX(R) production. An issue for Congress for FY2017 is whether to further reduce the gap in time between the end of LPD-17 production and the start of LX(R) production by funding the procurement of a 13th LPD-17 class ship (i.e., LPD-29) in FY2018; and/or further accelerating the start of LX(R) production by providing additional LX(R) research and development funding and/or additional advance procurement (AP) funding.
