Navy USS America Amphib Gets New Tweaks for F-35B Attacks

By Kris Osborn – Managing Editor – Warrior Maven

US Navy and industry engineers will soon begin additional work on the USS America amphibious assault ship to finalize the ship’s integration with the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, marking a substantial milestone for the Navy as it prepares for the future of amphibious warfare.

The USS America, the first-in-class of a series of new amphibs for the Navy, recently returned home to San Diego from a seven-month deployment to the Pacific and Middle East. The ship, which went to Guam, Singapore and other strategic areas for missions and training, is now slated to begin an extensive series of Hull, Mechanical and Electrical repairs – and also receive “additional modifications to support F-35 Lighting II operations on board,” a BAE Systems statement said.

The modifications to the flight deck will be an extension of previous work done on the USS America to ensure that the weapons and sensors are synchronized with the Joint Strike Fighter and that flight deck can withstand the heat of the F-35B vertical take-offs-and-landings. Marine Corps Short Take off and Landing F-35Bs have already conducted extensive flight testing on board the USS America. `

Navy engineers installed a new heat-resistant thermally sprayed non-skid, which is designed to prevent long-term heat damage to the flight deck and underlying structure, adding intercostal structural members below landing spots seven and nine, Navy officials have told Warrior Maven.

“With the added structure, these two landing spots will provide the capability to perform closely timed cyclic flight operations with the F-35B without overstressing the flight deck,” a Navy official familiar with the process previously told Warrior Maven.

Navy video of F-35B & USS America here