Slated to arrive in 2024 the now under
construction future USS Bougainville
will incorporate an ability to house and
launch two landing craft air cushions or
landing craft utility vehicles for ship
to shore amphibious missions. The first two of the america class the
uss america and uss tripoli were both
described to me several years ago by the
america class program manager as
aviation centric. Meaning they did not
include a well deck. The thinking was of course to leverage
the emerging advantages brought to
maritime warfare by the F-35B and osprey
aircraft.
The ships include more hangar space for
aircraft, a specially configured flight deck and a
dedicated mission to enable the then
first of its kind 5th gen amphibious
attack aircraft. The rationale it seems clear was also to
build ships within modern concepts of
operations which call for an increase in
aerial surveillance, transport and power
projection in response to the threat
environment. The USS America for example has deployed
with as many as 13 F-35s, a circumstance
that clearly changes the tactical
dynamics associated with amphibious
combat missions. Ehen i was aboard the USS America years
ago for a visit a marine on the ship
explained the strategic significance of
mounted vertical maneuver using the
osprey. Essentially forward lifting
marines and weapons in behind enemy
lines to conduct reconnaissance, targeting or even cover rapid strike
attacks.
The flight deck and structure of america
were specially engineered with these
kinds of missions in mind and also
modified to better accommodate the
landing of the vertical takeoff F-35B aircraft. Years ago some modifications had to be
made to enable the america class flight
takes to better withstand the heat
generated onto the flight deck by an F-35. There are several significant things to
consider here as it appears the third
america class ship will not forsake or
compromise the aviation capability
characteristic of the USS America and USS Tripoli.
Huntington Ingalls officials describe
the america class configuration as
containing additional flight deck space
in part made possible for a smaller deck
house and an additional sponsor. This means ship launched amphibious
assault vehicles or troop and weapons
transporting LCAC's launching attacks
will now have an entirely new universe
of air support which simply not possible
in the pre-F-35 era. The air surface combination afforded by
the Bougainville is clearly intended to
support the navy's distributed maritime
operations concept, which among other
things seeks to enable disaggregated, yet
networked attacks involving a
coordinated fleet of manned and unmanned
air, surface and undersea platforms.
