PASCAGOULA, Miss. (Sept. 20, 2023) — HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel today for the
America-class amphibious ship
Fallujah (LHA 9). The ship’s sponsor, Donna Berger, former first lady of the Marine Corps and spouse of Gen. David H. Berger, 38th commandant of the Marine Corps, was in attendance to declare the keel “truly and fairly laid.”
During the authentication ceremony Ingalls Welder Seveta Gray welded the initials of the sponsor onto a ceremonial keel plate that will remain with the ship throughout its life.
“Ingalls is honored to mark this important milestone with our shipbuilders and so many of our critical partners here today,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said. “Whether representing namesake, customer, community or shipyard, today’s keel event demonstrates the unique connection we have to one another through this industry and through our respective devotion to service.”
Ingalls was pleased to host Under Secretary of the Navy Erik Raven who also provided remarks at the ceremony.
“The USS
Fallujah, like her predecessors the USS
America, USS
Tripoli and USS
Bougainville, will one day join the amphibious fleet, and serve as the centerpiece for amphibious ready groups and Marine Expeditionary Units,” Raven said. “L-class ships like the future USS
Fallujah make our Navy and Marine Corps a potent fighting team, forward-postured around the globe, ready to respond to crisis and disaster.”
The future
USS Fallujah (LHA 9) is the fourth
America-class large-deck amphibious assault ship built at Ingalls Shipbuilding and the second ship in the class to be built with a well deck. Similar to
Bougainville,
Fallujah will retain the aviation capability of the
America-class design while adding the surface assault capability of a well deck and a larger flight deck configured for F-35B Joint Strike Fighter and MV-22 Osprey aircraft. These large-deck amphibious assault ships also include top-of-the-line medical facilities with full operating suites and triage capabilities.
The
America class is a multi-functional and versatile ship that is capable of operating in a high density, multi-threat environment as an integral member of an expeditionary strike group, an amphibious task force or an amphibious ready group.
Ingalls has delivered 15 large-deck amphibious ships to the U.S. Navy. The shipyard delivered the first in the new
America class of amphibious assault ships (LHA 6) in 2014. The second ship in the
America class, USS
Tripoli (LHA 7), was delivered to the Navy in early 2020 and
Bougainville (LHA 8) and Fallujah (LHA 9) are currently under construction.
####
Under Secretary of the Navy Erik Raven delivers remarks at LHA 9 keel ceremony at Ingalls Shipbuilding.
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David Bligh delivers remarks at LHA 9 keel ceremony at Ingalls Shipbuilding.
Ship Sponsor Donna Berger holds the steel plate that will be welded inside LHA 9. Pictured with Berger are (left to right) Under Secretary of the Navy Erik Raven and Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson.
Ingalls welder Seveta Gray welds the initials of Donna Berger onto the keel plaque that will be permanently part of Fallajuh (LHA 9). Left to right, HII President & Chief Executive Officer Chris Kastner, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David Bligh, Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson, Under Secretary of the Navy Erik Raven, and Ship Sponsor Donna Berger.
