Aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) moves forward
Yesterday, the country’s sole provider of aircraft carriers, Huntington Ingalls Industries, received a $296 million contract modification, under a previously awarded contract “for continuation of long-lead-time material procurement for and advance construction of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79).”
What does that mean? Aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy is on its way. Advance construction and procurement funding enables shipbuilders to transition smoothly from Ford into the bulk of Kennedy’s construction starting in 2013, according to Mike Shawcross, Vice President, Newport News Shipbuilding.
John F. Kennedy is the second ship in the Gerald R. Ford class, the Navy’s newest class of nuclear aircraft carriers. The Ford class incorporates many improvements in capability and is designed to reduce total ownership cost over that of the Nimitz-class. The ship’s first steel was cut in December 2010, and delivery to the Navy is scheduled no later than 2022.
Read more about the contract award here.
