America-class (LHA-6)

The America class is a class of landing helicopter assault (LHA) amphibious assault ships built for the United States Navy. The program began in July 2001 to replace the Tarawa-class amphibious assault ships, with development starting in October 2005. The United States Department of Defense authorized production in January 2006, and Huntington Ingalls Industries (then Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding) began construction of the lead ship, USS America (LHA-6), in December 2008. The United States Navy plans to build up to 11 ships of the class.

The design of the America class is derived from USS Makin Island, the final ship of the Wasp class, and incorporates a hybrid-electric propulsion system using gas turbines and diesel-electric engines. Both the gas turbines and the embarked aircraft utilize JP-5 fuel. To accommodate transit through the Panama Canal, the physical width of the hull was restricted during the design process.

The class is built in two configurations. The first two vessels, USS America and USS Tripoli, were built to the "Flight 0" design. These ships omit a well deck to maximize hangar, weapons, and fuel space for aviation operations. A typical Flight 0 air wing consists of 12 MV-22B Osprey transports, six F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighters, four CH-53K heavy transport helicopters, seven AH-1Z or UH-1Y helicopters, and two MH-60S Knighthawks. The ships can also operate as small aircraft carriers carrying 20 to 25 F-35B or AV-8B Harrier II aircraft. To protect the flight deck from the high-temperature exhaust of F-35B and MV-22 aircraft, the United States Navy applied 14 structural modifications to USS America starting in January 2014.

Starting with the third ship, USS Bougainville (LHA-8), the "Flight I" design introduces a well deck in the stern to deploy Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCACs) and heavy amphibious vehicles. To accommodate the well deck, Flight I ships feature a smaller island superstructure and reduced aircraft hangar capacity.

USS America was commissioned in 2014 and is in active service. USS Tripoli (LHA-7) had its keel authenticated in June 2014, was delivered in February 2020, and entered active service in July 2020. Construction of the first Flight I ship, USS Bougainville, began with keel authentication in March 2019, followed by launching in September 2023; its estimated delivery was delayed to July 2027 due to shipyard labor and budget challenges. Ingalls Shipbuilding was awarded the contract for the fourth ship, USS Fallujah (LHA-9), in October 2022, with construction beginning in September 2023 and delivery projected for July 2031. Congress authorized the fifth ship, USS Helmand Province (LHA-10), in 2023.