Navy starts designing float-on, float-off cargo ship for battlefield operations

Leaders of the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington are awarding a $3.5 million to General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. in San Diego to start designing the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) ship, which will partially submerge in water so that cargo and smaller vessels can float on and off.

General Dynamics experts will help the Navy determine the amount of shipboard electronics necessary to operate the future MLP ship, as well as the kinds of shipboard electronic systems such as shipboard communications the MLP vessel will need to perform its mission.

The MLP ship also will link large cargo ships with smaller vessels that deliver cargo to bases to battlefield areas on the beach.

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