BAE Systems to upgrade US Navy’s amphibious assault ship for joint strike fighter ops

February 24, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Defense company BAE Systems has received a $204.1 million US Navy contract to provide maintenance services aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7).

Under the selected restricted availability (SRA) contract awarded, BAE Systems will upgrade shipboard systems to accommodate joint strike fighter flight operations.

Work aboard the 843-foot-long (257 meters) ship will begin in August.

USS Iwo Jima is the third US Navy ship named after the World War II battle. The current vessel was commissioned in June 2001.

The Norfolk shipyard is nearing completion of repairs aboard the lead ship of the amphibious assault ship class, USS Wasp (LHD 1).

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Vessels

“The USS Iwo Jima availability is welcomed work for our Norfolk shipyard team,” said David M. Thomas Jr., vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Maritime Solutions Norfolk.

“We are very familiar with performing modernization work aboard this class of ship. We will apply the lessons learned from current and past LHD-class work done within our shipyard.”