The US Navy has awarded General Dynamics NASSCO a $1.7 billion contract to build two new John Lewis-class fleet oilers, designated T-AO 215 and T-AO 216, further expanding the Navy’s replenishment capability.
This contract forms part of a multi-ship acquisition plan for as many as eight additional vessels in the class. So far, NASSCO has delivered four oilers from its San Diego facility, continuing steady production momentum.
The award follows a 2024 eight-ship agreement and a 2022 expansion, which added three more ships to the original build schedule. Work on the program began in 2016, when NASSCO was initially granted a $3.2 billion design-and-build contract for six ships.
Designed for the Military Sealift Command, the John Lewis-class (T-AO) ships provide underway replenishment of fuel, provisions, and potable water to support long-range naval operations worldwide.
Each vessel is 742 feet long, 106 feet wide, and displaces nearly 49,850 tons at full load. With the capacity to carry 162,000 barrels of fuel, the ships can reach 20 knots and are manned by up to 129 civilian mariners operating five replenishment stations.
These capabilities enable sustained fleet readiness, logistical endurance, and global maritime reach for US Navy operations.
