New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia
This budget will be spent over the next four years and nearly doubles the country’s defence spending as part of GDP to 2%.
General Dynamics NASSCO to build three more US Navy replenishment vessels
General Dynamics NASSCO has received $1.4 billion in USN contract modifications to build three new vessels for the USN. (Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO)
The latest $1.4 billion contract modification for General Dynamics NASSCO covers a new Expeditionary Sea Base ship and two more John Lewis-class fleet oilers.
General Dynamics NASSCO has received $1.4 billion in USN contract modifications to build a sixth Lewis B Puller-class Expeditionary Sea Base ship (ESB 8) and two additional John Lewis-class fleet oilers (T-AO 211 and 212).
‘This award comes in addition to $600 million already received to procure long-lead time materials for the same ships,’ the shipbuilder noted in a 5 August announcement.
The contract modification also provides an option for the USN to procure an additional oiler (T-AO 213), bringing to $2.7 billion the total potential contract value of the four ships.
Construction of the four ships is scheduled to begin in Q3 2023 and continue into 2027.
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Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) [USN]
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