What are the air support capabilities?
The flight deck can support the Marine Corps’ largest helicopter, the CH-53E. The ship’s design also allows support of smaller helicopters such as the CH-46, AH-1H or UH-1H aircraft. The ship may also launch and recover the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. Depending upon the mix of aircraft, the LPD 17 San Antonio class has the capability to temporarily support as many as six aircraft cross-decked from another ship or routinely launch or recover as many as four aircraft simultaneously.
A26. The flight deck can support the Marine Corps’ largest helicopter, the CH-53E. The ship’s design also allows support of smaller helicopters such as the CH-46, AH-1H or UH-1H aircraft. The ship may also launch and recover the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. Depending upon the mix of aircraft, the LPD 17 class has the capability to temporarily support as many as six aircraft cross-decked from another ship or routinely launch or recover as many as four aircraft simultaneously.
