In July 2005, Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract for the development of the USS America (LHA 6) amphibious assault ship, which is a variant of the LHD 8 with the capability to support the F-35B STOVL joint strike fighter and the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor. In April 2002, the US Navy awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman for the construction of one additional Wasp-class ship, USS Makin Island (LHD 8), which features a new gas turbine propulsion system (instead of the steam propulsion of the other vessels), comprising two GE LM2500+ turbines, rated at 35,000shp and six diesel-electric generators with a controllable pitch propeller. The other ships of the class are USS Essex (LHD 2) commissioned in October 1992 USS Kearsage (LHD 3) (October 1993) USS Boxer (LHD 4) (February 1995) USS Batan (LHD 5) (September 1997) USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (August 1998) and USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) (June 2001).
Ingalls delivered USS Wasp (LHD 1) in May 1989 and the ship is operational with the US Navy Atlantic Fleet. The WASP-class is the first specifically designed to employ air-cushion landing craft (LCACS) and to carry a squadron of Harrier II (AV-8B) STOVL (short take-off vertical landing) jets.
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