Huntington Ingalls Industries is prepared to begin building one of the Navy’s big-deck amphibious ships three years early, a move that would appease lawmakers who have asked the service to accelerate the acquisition program. Beci Brenton, an HII spokeswoman, told Inside Defense the shipbuilder could begin constructing the LHA-9 vessel "at least three years" before the scheduled 2025 start date. "The earlier start would help ensure an efficient industrial base, preserve our highly skilled workforce and not disrupt the already...
