Northrop Grumman announced that it has been awarded $171 million by the U.S. Navy for advance procurement long-lead time materials for LPD 21, the fifth amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio-class LPD 17 program. Long-lead materials consist of the main engines, generators, controllable pitch propellers and reduction gears, among other items. Advance procurement is necessary for these critical long-lead items in order to exercise vendor option rates.

To date, the first four ships awarded in the 12-ship LPD 17 program are under contract. LPD 17 and LPD 18 are presently under construction at all three locations of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in New Orleans, Pascagoula and Gulfport. The first ship is approaching 50 percent completion in unit erection at Avondale Operations in New Orleans. In October, the keel for the second ship, USS New Orleans, will also be laid at Avondale. The LPD 17 amphibious transport dock ships are designed to be 208.4 meters (684 feet) long and 31.9 meters (105 feet) wide and will replace the functions of the LPD 4-, LSD 36-, LKA 113-, and LDT 1179-classes of amphibious ships. The ship's mission is to embark, transport and land elements of a landing force in an assault by helicopters, landing craft and amphibious vehicles to conduct an amphibious warfare mission.