‘USS Tripoli’: How much does it cost the US Navy to operate its deadliest amphibious assault ship?

Commissioned in 2020, the USS Tripoli is an America-class amphibious assault ship designed to project massive combat power. Building this 45,000-ton behemoth cost the US Navy approximately $3.4 billion, which translates to roughly Rs 28,000 crore.

The ship itself is only half the financial equation. When configured as a 'Lightning Carrier', the Tripoli holds up to 20 F-35B stealth fighter jets, adding an extra $3 billion (Rs 25,000 crore) in aviation assets to its flight deck.

A warship of this magnitude requires a massive crew to function in hostile waters. The vessel permanently houses over 1,100 sailors and actively deploys with an additional 1,600 to 2,200 combat-ready Marines, generating immense daily payroll and sustainment costs.

The Tripoli never sails alone into combat zones. Factoring in the escorting destroyers, fast-attack submarines, and the associated aviation wing, operating a full US Expeditionary Strike Group costs an estimated $6 to $8 million per day.

To mitigate extreme fuel costs, engineers equipped the Tripoli with a highly advanced hybrid-electric propulsion system. By switching between gas turbines for high speeds and electric motors for cruising, the Navy expects to save over $250 million in lifetime fuel expenses.

Keeping a complex naval vessel combat-ready requires constant, highly expensive upkeep. Even routine, scheduled maintenance periods while docked cost tens of millions, with a single restricted availability repair contract in 2023 costing taxpayers over $33 million.

The Tripoli recently arrived in the Persian Gulf to deter Iranian aggression and protect strategic shipping lanes. This deployment is part of a massive regional US military buildup that analysts estimate is currently costing America up to $1 billion every single day.