Navy Wants to Speed Up New LXR Amphib

By Kris Osborn

Designed  to function in a modern threat environment, conduct a wider range of missions than the ship it is replacing, and help the service increase the lagging number of amphibs in the force, senior officials said.

A Capabilities Development Document for the new ship, called the LXR, has completed a joint-review wherein acquisition professionals examined the new platform and made comments and recommendations.

The document was slated for analysis by a special Pentagon entity called the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, or JROC, Maj. Gen. Christopher Owens, Navy Director of Expeditionary Warfare, told Scout Warrior in an interview a few months ago..  

The Navy plans to build at least 11 LXR ships, with the first one slated to deliver by 2026, Owens said.

The idea for the acceleration would be to repeat and effort from last year’s budget to add additional funds to the LXR program and a way to speed up the acquisition of the first ship to a point earlier than 2020, a May 2016 Congressional Research Service report says

“In 206, Congress provided $29 million in additional research and development funding and $250 million in additional advance procurement,” the Congressional Research Service report said. 

The Congressional report also says beginning construction of the new ship before the current plan would help the amphibious assault ship industrial base achieve stability during a period of reduced construction.