Axios // Dec 19, 2020 12:35:31 The Pentagon has finalized a $3 billion contract to build the first seven of the Lockheed Martin Land Cruiser 2020 fleet of the 7th generation of the amphibious assault ships.
The deal, signed Wednesday by Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Lockheed’s CEO Jim McNerney, includes the acquisition of 7 of Lockheed’s existing fleet of land cruisers, the Navy announced.
The 7th Land Cruiser, dubbed the Land Warrior, is scheduled to enter service in 2021.
The company, founded in 1985, is one of the largest land and sea craft builders in the world, and has built amphibious aircraft for the U.S. Navy and the Army.
In 2017, the company was awarded a $2.4 billion contract by the Pentagon to build four of the 10 land-based platforms the U,S.
military uses to train and equip troops.
The contract also includes the purchase of the first of the six land attack platforms, the Land Destroyer, which is built in partnership with Northrop Grumman.
In 2020, the Army is expected to buy 10 more Land Attack Platforms and six of the Navy’s Land Attack Vessels, which are designed for use in deep water warfare.
“This acquisition further underscores the importance of this contract to the Army and the Navy, and provides us with the capability to provide our partners the capability they need to rapidly deploy and sustain U.s. forces and support operations in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley in a statement.
“The next generation of land combat vehicles is an important capability for our troops to be able to perform at the highest level and in the most complex missions.”
The Navy is also expected to get two additional Land Attack Submarines.
“These acquisitions are a critical step in our plan to modernize our fleet and equip our force to meet future threats in the region,” Vice Adm.
Brian McAdoo, the deputy commander of the U;S.
Pacific Command, said in a joint statement.
Lockheed Martin said in its statement that the 7-ship deal will be the first to buy the full range of Lockheed Martin’s land-attack platforms.
“We’re proud to be working with the Army to enhance our capability for amphibious combat and to expand our amphibious capability,” said Ray Sullivan, the general manager of Lockheed Land Systems.
The 9th generation Land Cruiser is expected in the Navy fleet sometime between 2021 and 2023.
