Pentagon budget 2026: US Navy seeks increase in amphibious-ship acquisition

The US Navy FY 2026 budget request includes funding for America-class amphibious assault ship, like USS America, shown here. (US Navy)

The US Navy (USN) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget requests include about USD8.5 billion in total, compared to USD1.8 billion enacted in FY2025, but all of the funding is through reconciliation legislation yet to be approved by Congress according to USN budget documents released on 25 June.

That funding would procure one America-class amphibious assault ship (LHA), nine Landing Ships Medium (LSMs), and one San Antonio-class landing platform dock ship (LPD) the documents show.

The request includes USD3.9 billion for a fifth America-class ship, compared to USD115.4 million enacted in FY2025 and about USD1.6 billion for a fifth San Antonio-class LPD.

Noting that the USN “remains committed to the [US] statutory 31 amphibious ship requirement,” the service said it is requesting USD1.96 billion – in reconciliation funding -- for the construction of nine LSMS to “provide distributed maneuver, mobility, and logistical support for the Marine Littoral Regiments in contested littoral environments”.

In FY2025, about USD29.7 million was enacted for LSM funding.

The FY2026 budget request is the first after the USN confirmed in September 2024 the multiship buy of LPDs 33, 34, and 35 and LHA 10.

That “warship bundle” will yield USD1 billion in potential savings, according to the Amphibious Warship Industrial Base Coalition.

The USN and US Marine Corps (USMC) have had a rockier time with the acquisition of LSMs. In late 2024, the navy annulled competition for the vessel due to cost considerations.

To read more about LSM procurement issues, please see Surface Navy 2025: USN looks at non-developmental designs after Landing Ship Medium competition founders