Newport News gets aircraft carrier contract

Northrop Grumman’s Newport News shipyard has received a $5.1 billion contract to build the next generation aircraft carrier ‘Gerald R. Ford’, marking a major milestone for both the yard and the U.S. Navy and ensuring labour stability in Newport News through 2015.

The Ford is the lead ship in the newest class of carriers, replacing the outgoing Nimitz class, whose design dates back to the 1960s. The final ship of that class, the ‘George H.W. Bush’, is expected to be completed and delivered to the Navy in Newport News by the end of the year. Though the Ford class will use many of the same design features of the Nimitz class, Northrop and the Navy have added several new technologies, including a new flight deck with an improved weapons handling system, advanced arresting gear to catch aircraft, a re-engineered launch system and a new nuclear propulsion plant design.

Including advanced design work and initial acquisition costs, the price tag for the Ford comes in at about $13.9 billion. Recurring costs for future Ford-class ships will be about $8 billion, said Capt. Brian Antonio, the Navy’s program manager for the Ford class. That $8 billion also includes all government-furnished equipment, such as combat systems, radar and communications and other new equipment.

Design work and construction of various ship units has been under way in Newport News for several years.