Last week, U.S. shipbuilder HII reported that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division received the new mid-hull section of the USS Enterprise (CVN 80), which belongs to the Gerald R. Ford class. With this development, the company’s personnel are preparing to begin assembling two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers simultaneously in the same dry dock, thereby accelerating the construction process of these vessels for the U.S. Navy.
In this regard, the official statement issued by HII notes that assembly of the USS Doris Miller (CVN 81) is expected to begin early next year, with work carried out at the eastern end of the dock, while the future USS Enterprise is being assembled on the western side. This simultaneous construction is made possible by modifications to the NNS dry dock, which received significant investments from both HII and the U.S. Navy. In 2019, the Navy advanced a contract to enable the construction of both carriers at the same time.
Quoting some remarks, NNS Vice President for Aircraft Carrier Programs Les Smith stated: “It is very fitting that this Enterprise, CVN 80, is part of a historic milestone at NNS, considering that the previous Enterprise, CVN 65, was the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, proudly built here at the shipyard (…) Thousands of dedicated shipbuilders are working urgently on these carriers, which we know will play a vital role in the Navy’s fleet.”
It is worth highlighting that HII is currently the only manufacturer capable of undertaking a project of this magnitude—no small feat given the complexity associated with constructing a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. This capacity certainly accelerates delivery timelines for the U.S. Navy. In this context, it is notable that HII has utilized digital tools to facilitate the construction process, designing and assembling both ships entirely on computers before commencing physical work at the shipyard.
However, it should be noted that official documents have revealed that the delivery of the USS Enterprise has been delayed by an additional year beyond its originally scheduled timeframe, moving from fiscal year 2028 to 2029. As reported in February, this delay is primarily attributed to supply chain difficulties stemming from the pandemic era, which have hindered the timely delivery of materials needed by HII to construct the vessel. This issue also affects the procurement of new units, as evidenced by the postponement of the purchase of the fifth (CVN 82) and sixth (CVN 83) carriers in the class, shifting from a planned 2028 timeline to 2030.
Finally, it is worth noting that the U.S. Navy already operates the first carrier in the class, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). This ship participated in exercises alongside the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in August and completed its first major eight-month deployment last year, returning to its home port at Norfolk Naval Station in January. Meanwhile, the Navy is also nearing the reception of the second ship in the class, the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79); it was reported earlier this year that testing of its electromagnetic catapults had already begun.
Image credits: HII
You may also like: The U.S. Army is conducting tests and evaluations on the new upgrades introduced to its M1A2 Abrams tanks
