Huntington Ingalls Industries' shipbuilding division has successfully installed the deckhouse on the future amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, the company announced this week.

The major ship construction milestone for the LHA 7 begins the integration of the three largest ship sections and took place three weeks ahead of schedule, HII said in a statement.

"We are benefitting from serial production, including our process of rolling over the same shipbuilding crews to work on the large-deck amphibious ships," Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said.

The company expects to deliver the Tripoli in 2018.

Like the USS America delivered in 2014, Tripoli will feature increased aviation capacity, including an enlarged hangar deck, realignment and expansion of the aviation maintenance facilities, increase in available stowage for parts and equipment and increased aviation fuel capacity.

Like its predecessors, the Tripoli will be able to operate as an expeditionary strike group flagship.

The company has built five Tarawa-class amphibious assault ships, of which Tripoli will be the latest, as well as eight Wasp-class ships.