The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $149.8-million firm-fixed-price contract for the maintenance, modernization, and repair of the USS Boxer (LHD 4), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship.
BAE Systems will perform the work at Naval Base San Diego, California, with completion expected by October 2028. Contract options could increase the total value to $180 million.
The latest contract follows BAE Systems’ $200.3-million modernization and maintenance contract for the Boxer in 2020, which included upgrades to support F-35B operations, as well as hull, tank, and mechanical work.
Recurring maintenance problems later affected the Boxer’s operational availability, disrupting the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s 2024 Indo-Pacific deployment.
The issues reflected broader amphibious-fleet readiness challenges, prompting the US Navy last year to launch a maintenance pilot designed to give maintainers more lead time to plan and prepare for ship availability.
“Critical maintenance of the USS Boxer will support the US Navy’s vital mission to continue defending our nation,” Vice President and General Manager of BAE Systems Maritime Solutions San Diego Eric Icke said.
“I look forward to our highly skilled team delivering unmatched capacity, precision, and performance for our customer.”
USS Boxer
Commissioned in February 1995, the USS Boxer is the fourth of eight Wasp-class amphibious assault ships.
Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the 844-foot (257-meter) vessel serves as a key component of the US Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, supporting US Marine Corps amphibious and aviation operations.
The Boxer has a displacement of about 40,500 tons and can accommodate approximately 1,174 crew members and 2,070 embarked troops.
The ship can operate a range of aircraft, including F-35B Lightning II fighters, MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, and CH-53E heavy-lift helicopters. It is also equipped with a well deck for launching and recovering landing craft.