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Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier News

25 Aug 2021

Video: First Steel Cut for Aircraft Carrier Doris Miller

(Photo: HII)

A steel cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday for the U.S. Navy’s newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Doris Miller (CVN 81).Slated to be the fourth Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, CVN 81 is currently under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding shipyard in Newport News, Va. Doris Miller’s keel is scheduled to be laid in 2026 and delivered to the Navy in 2032.Doris Miller is the second ship of the two-carrier contract award HII received in January 2019 for the detail design and construction of the Gerald R.

15 Jun 2020

Fire Breaks Out Aboard French Nuclear Submarine

(Photo: Maritime Prefecture of the Mediterranean)

Fire broke out onboard a nuclear submarine docked at the Mediterranean port of Toulon on Friday and was still raging but under control by afternoon, local officials said.Nobody was hurt and no nuclear materials or weapons were on board the vessel, the Perle, which is in dry dock for repairs, the prefecture said in a statement.“The fire is under control. It will not spread, but it has not yet been put out,” a spokeswoman for the Mediterranean prefecture told Reuters.The prefecture also said that smoke coming from the Perle was not radioactive.Dozens of firefighters were on the scene…

01 Jun 2020

USS George Washington Overhaul 75% Complete

USS George Washington (CVN 73) is undergoing refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipyard. RCOH is a nearly four-year project performed only once during a carrier's 50-year service life that includes refueling the ship's two nuclear reactors, as well as significant repairs, upgrades, and modernization. (U.S. Navy photo by Marlan Sawyer)

The U.S. Navy's nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) reached the 75% completion point of the ship’s force work package.The warship entered dry dock at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia in August 2017 to start her fueling complex overhaul (RCOH) period, the sixth Nimitz-class carrier to undergo this major mid-life milestone. In the 34 months since, her sailors have contributed more than 1.3 million work-hours out of the 2,306,996 planned work-hours in the completion of over 196…

03 Apr 2020

Navy Probe to Decide Future of Fired US Carrier Commander

Capt. Brett Crozier addresses the crew for the first time as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during a change of command ceremony in November 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Sean Lynch)

Even as he is hailed as a hero by his crew, the fired commander of a coronavirus-stricken U.S. aircraft carrier is being reassigned while investigators consider whether he should face disciplinary action, acting U.S. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told Reuters on Friday.Captain Brett Crozier was relieved of his command of the Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday after a scathing letter in which he called on the Navy for stronger action to halt the spread of the virus aboard the nuclear…

17 Dec 2019

Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy Launched

Tugboats move the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) from Newport News Shipbuilding’s Dock Dry 12 to Pier 3, where the ship will undergo final completion and outfitting before planned delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2022. (Photo: Matt Hildreth/HII)

The U.S. Navy’s newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was launched Monday at Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding yard in Virginia.Following the launch, the Ford Class aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), was guided with help from six tugboats down the James River about a mile from Newport News Shipbuilding’s Dry Dock 12, where it has been under construction, to the shipyard’s Pier 3. There, the ship will undergo additional outfitting and begin…

09 Dec 2019

Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy Christened

More than 20,000 guests attended the christening ceremony of the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) at Newport News Shipbuilding division. (Photo: Ben Scott/HII)

The U.S. Navy’s newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) was christened Saturday during a ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division.The second aircraft carrier in the Ford Class, John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is also the second aircraft carrier built by Newport News Shipbuilding named for JFK. Like its forerunner CVN 78, Kennedy is a truly electric aircraft carrier, with many of the systems powered by steam on Nimitz-class carriers now powered by electricity.

26 Sep 2019

Secretary of Defense Esper Visits Newport News Shipbuilding

HII President and CEO Mike Petters (center) greets Secretary of Defense Mark Esper during his first visit to the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Photo by Matt Hildreth/HII

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) has announced that Secretary of Defense Mark Esper visited the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). This was Esper’s first visit to the shipyard since he was sworn in to lead the U.S. Department of Defense in July.Esper toured Ford to see the progress being made during the ship’s post-shakedown availability and to learn more about its weapons-handling innovations and increased warfighting capabilities.“Our shipbuilders play a vital role in building our Navy’s future fleet…

12 Jul 2019

Video: HII Finishes CVN-79 Flight Deck

Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding division lifted the upper bow section onto one of the new aircraft carrier being built for the U.S. Navy, signalling the completion of the ship's flight deck.The addition of the upper bow section is one of the last steel structural units, known as a superlift, to be placed on the newbuiild, John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). Weighing 780 tons, the superlift took 18 months to build. It was constructed using digital technology, such as visual work instructions to install piping in the upper bow on the final assembly platen instead of on the ship.“We are very pleased with the progress being made on Kennedy as we inch closer to christening the ship later this year,” said Mike Butler, Newport News’ CVN 79 program director.

31 Aug 2018

Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy 50% Complete

(Photo by Ashley Cowan/HII)

Construction of the U.S. Navy’s second Gerald Ford class aircraft carrier has reached its midway point following the installation of one of the ship’s largest units.Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding said it has installed one of the heaviest of the planned steel structures, known as superlifts, that will be joined together to make up nuclear-powered aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). The superlift of the aft section between the hangar bay and flight deck weighs approximately 905 metric tons…

21 Aug 2018

#SNAME125

Aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) underway in the Atlantic Ocean in 2004 (U.S. Navy photo by Rob Gaston)

Significant moments in naval architecture & marine engineeringUSS Enterprise (CVN-65), formerly CVA(N)-65, was commissioned November 25, 1961 as the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The longest naval vessel ever built, "The Big E" was constructed at the Newport News shipyard in Virginia and cost nearly $451.3 million, or roughly $4 billion in 2018 dollars.The October 2018 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, the world’s largest audited circulation maritime magazine serving the maritime b2b space…

13 Aug 2018

HII Awarded Advance Planning Contract for USS John C. Stennis

HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division was awarded an advance planning contract for the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). HII photo

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) was awarded an advance planning contract for the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).The contract, which is initially funded for one year and has a base value of $187.5 million, includes engineering, design, material procurement and fabrication, documentation, resource forecasting, and pre-overhaul inspections. Future modifications could extend the period of performance to 30 months and increase the contract value if additional options are exercised.

13 May 2018

China's First Home-built Aircraft Carrier Begins Sea Trials

China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier headed out for sea trials on May 13, Chinese state media reported. The report said that the new aircraft carrier, temporarily named Type 001A, sailed out at around 7 a.m. in Dalian, in the northeast province of Liaoning. The Chinese Navy — officially the People’s Liberation Army Navy — already has one operational carrier, the Liaoning, which it bought unfinished from Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. So, the 50,000-tonne ship will become the country's second aircraft carrier, and the first to be entirely built and designed inside of China, when it joins the navy sometime before 2020. State media reports say China is also planning to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier capable of remaining at sea for long durations.

04 May 2018

US’ New Aircraft Carrier 75% Structurally Complete

The next nuclear-powered aircraft carrier for the U.S. Navy is now three-quarters structurally complete following the recent installation of the forward area of the ship’s main deck, shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced today.John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the second ship in the Gerald R. Ford class of carriers, has been taking shape at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division since the ship’s keel was laid in August 2015. The ship is being built using modular construction…

23 Feb 2018

Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilder Nears Completion of Future JFK Aircraft Carrier

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has built 70 percent of the structures necessary to complete the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). Like its predecessor, the first-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Kennedy is being built with a modular construction technique where smaller sections of the ship are welded together to form larger structures called superlifts. The superlifts are pre-outfitted and hoisted into Dry Dock 12—where the ship is being built—by the company’s 1,050-metric ton gantry crane. Shipbuilders have successfully erected 317 lifts since the ship’s keel was laid in August 2015. Kennedy is on track to be completed with 447 total lifts.

25 Aug 2017

Huntington Ingalls Steel-Cut for Aircraft Carrier Enterprise

Huntington Ingalls Industries has cut a 35-ton steel plate at its Newport News Shipbuilding division to kick off advance construction of the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80). The steel plate will become part of the foundation of Enterprise, the ninth U.S. Navy ship to bear the legendary name. Ship’s sponsors and U.S. Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky gave the order to cut the steel during a ceremony that marks the first construction milestone in the life of the ship. Other ceremony participants included Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va.; Rear Adm. Brian K. Antonio, program executive officer, aircraft carriers; shipbuilders and their families; and representatives of the recently decommissioned Enterprise (CVN 65). “Much like U.S.

22 Jun 2017

Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy Half Complete

John F. Kennedy’s lower stern was lifted into place at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division, where the second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier is now 50 percent structurally complete. (Photo: John Whalen/HII)

U.S. shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) said the structure of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is now 50 percent complete. The second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier CVN 79 grew about 70 feet in length with the addition of the lower stern, which was recently lifted into place at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. Like Ford, which was delivered to the Navy earlier this month, Kennedy is being built using modular construction, a process where smaller sections of the ship are welded together to form larger structural units (called “superlifts”)…

04 Feb 2017

US Decommissions USS Enterprise

The aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN 65), was decommissioned during a ceremony held in the ship's hangar bay, Feb. 3, says a Navy press release. The ceremony not only marked the end the ship's nearly 55-year career, it also served as the very first decommissioning of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Capt. Todd Beltz, commanding officer of the Enterprise, addressed the ship's company, former commanding officers and distinguished visitors and spoke of where the true spirit of "The Big E" comes from. "For all that Enterprise represents to this nation, it's the people that bring this ship to life," said Beltz. "So as I stand in this ship that we all care so much about…

04 Feb 2017

U.S.Navy Decommissions "The Big E"

The aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN 65), was decommissioned during a ceremony held in the ship's hangar bay, Feb. The ceremony not only marked the end the ship's nearly 55-year career, it also served as the very first decommissioning of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Capt. Todd Beltz, commanding officer of the Enterprise, addressed the ship's company, former commanding officers and distinguished visitors and spoke of where the true spirit of "The Big E" comes from. "For all that Enterprise represents to this nation, it's the people that bring this ship to life," said Beltz. "So as I stand in this ship that we all care so much about…

15 Oct 2016

USN to Commission Destroyer Zumwalt

The Navy will commission the destroyer Zumwalt (DDG 1000), Saturday, Oct. 15, during a 5 p.m. EDT ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland. The ship is named in honor of Adm. Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt Jr., former chief of naval operations (CNO) from 1970 to 1974. A veteran of World War II and the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, Adm. Zumwalt exemplified honor, courage and commitment during 32 years of dedicated naval service, earning a Bronze Star with Valor for his actions during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He passed away in 2000 at the age of 79. During his time as CNO, Adm. Zumwalt embraced technological innovation and advocated a number of successful programs including the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate…

26 Sep 2016

On the Majestic Maersk, mega-ship dreams obscure cloudy future

For Captain Dick S. Danielsen, the childhood dream has been to sail the world's biggest ships. The Danish seaman got his chance three years ago when he was asked to helm the Majestic Maersk, a mammoth, baby blue-painted vessel that at 400 meters (1,312 feet) is longer than a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The ship can hold up to 18,270 twenty-foot (TEU) shipping containers and is owned by the world's largest container shipping firm, A.P. Moller-Maersk. "If you're going to be a captain and the company asks you, do you want to be on our biggest ship in the fleet, everybody would be proud. If they don't, then I think they're lying," he told Reuters from his ship during a 24 hour-long stop in Shanghai's port last Saturday.

15 Sep 2016

USS Zumwalt Arrives in Norfolk

Guided-missile destroyer Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Zumwalt (DDG 1000) departs from Naval Station Newport, R.I. following its maiden voyage from Bath Iron Works Shipyard in Bath, Maine. (U.S. Navy photo by Haley Nace)

The U.S. Navy’s newest and most technologically advanced surface ship, future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), pulled into Naval Station Norfolk Wednesday for another port visit as part of its three-month journey to its new homeport in San Diego. Crewed by 147 Sailors, Zumwalt is the lead ship of a class of next-generation multi-mission destroyers designed to strengthen naval power. They are capable of performing critical maritime missions and enhance the Navy's ability to provide deterrence, power projection and sea control.

13 Sep 2016

Superlift on Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79)

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced today that its Newport News Shipbuilding division placed a 900-ton superlift into dry dock, continuing construction of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). As Kennedy begins to take shape in the dry dock, the ship’s cost and construction schedule continue on track with significant improvement over its predecessor, the first-of-class Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). “We continue to focus on reducing cost, and we are pleased with our progress,” said Mike Shawcross, Newport News’ vice president, CVN 79 carrier construction. Like Ford, Kennedy is being built using modular construction, a process where smaller sections of the ship are welded together to form larger structural units (called “superlifts”).

09 Sep 2016

US' Most Advanced Warship Departs Bath Iron Works

The future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) departing Bath Iron Works (U.S. Navy photo)

The newest and most technologically advanced surface warship, future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), departed Maine shipyard Bath Iron Works September 7, marking the beginning of a three-month journey to its new homeport in San Diego. Crewed by 147 sailors, the stealthy, powerful and lethal Zumwalt is the lead ship of the U.S. Navy’s next-generation class of multimission destroyers. They are capable of performing critical maritime missions and enhance the Navy’s ability to provide deterrence, power projection and sea control. Named for Adm. Elmo R.