General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego won a $498 million contract from the Navy to build a second mobile landing platform, the company announced today.
NASSCO will perform final design work and construction of the vessel, which is due to be completed in March 2018.
The landing platform will serve as a floating staging base with a large helicopter deck and accommodations for 250 personnel. Aircraft based on the ship will be able to perform anti-mine missions, according to NASSCO.
The U.S. Naval Institute reported the 764-foot-long ship will be built on a crude oil tanker hull and will be able to host Marines and special forces personnel.
The first ship of its class, the USNS Lewis B. Puller, was launched at NASSCO last month and is set to become operational next year, according to the institute.
