The US Navy has awarded a $213.8m contract to Northrop Grumman for providing long-lead materials for landing platform dock 26 (LPD 26) which is the tenth amphibious transport dock ship of the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) Class.

Under the contract the company will purchase long-lead-time materials and major equipment such as main engines and diesel generators to the new ship.

The work will be performed at the company’s Gulf Coast facilities. The award of a contract for the detail design and construction of LPD 26 is anticipated in mid-2010.

The 684ft-long LPD 17 Class ships are 105ft wide, with a displacement capacity about 25,000t and the ship can carry up to 800 troops.

The warship includes the capability of transporting and debarking air-cushioned landing craft and expeditionary fighting vehicles.