HII's Newport News Shipbuilding has begun constructing two Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers concurrently after floating CVN 80.
Quiver AI Summary
HII announced that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has successfully transferred the mid-body hull section of the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80), marking a notable milestone as it prepares to assemble two Gerald R. Ford-class carriers concurrently in the same dry dock. This process began on October 31, when the dry dock was filled with over 100 million gallons of water, allowing the Enterprise to float for the first time. Construction will continue on CVN 80, while the Doris Miller (CVN 81) is set to commence assembly early next year. This dual construction capability is a result of a contract modification and upgrades made to the dry dock, reinforcing Newport News Shipbuilding's position as the only facility capable of designing and building nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. HII emphasized the importance of this achievement in enhancing the Navy's fleet capabilities.
Potential Positives
- The successful transfer of the mid-body hull section of CVN 80 marks a crucial milestone in the construction of the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers.
- This process allows for the concurrent assembly of two aircraft carriers, Enterprise (CVN 80) and Doris Miller (CVN 81), in the same dry dock, underscoring the shipyard's capacity and efficiency.
- The dual construction effort represents a historic first for the Newport News Shipbuilding division, enhancing its strategic importance to U.S. naval capabilities.
- This achievement reinforces HII's position as the only shipyard capable of designing, building, and refueling nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, emphasizing its unique market advantage.
Potential Negatives
- Despite the positive tone, the release highlights a significant logistical challenge by attempting to construct two aircraft carriers simultaneously, which may lead to increased risk of delays or cost overruns.
- The reliance on new construction techniques, such as digital design processes, may raise concerns about potential issues in adapting to these methods, which could impact efficiency and quality.
- While the press release emphasizes the company's capabilities, the mention of the investments made by the U.S. Navy alongside HII suggests a dependency on government funding, which could pose risks in periods of budget cuts or shifts in defense spending priorities.
FAQ
What is the significance of transferring Enterprise (CVN 80)?
The transfer marks the first time the mid-body hull section of Enterprise has been floated, enabling concurrent assembly of two aircraft carriers.
How many aircraft carriers are being constructed simultaneously?
For the first time, two Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, Enterprise (CVN 80) and Doris Miller (CVN 81), will be under construction at the same time.
What innovations are used in the construction of Enterprise?
Enterprise is the first aircraft carrier designed and built digitally, using visual work instructions on modern devices instead of traditional paper drawings.
When is Doris Miller (CVN 81) expected to begin construction?
The assembly of Doris Miller (CVN 81) is expected to commence early next year in the east end of the dry dock.
What role does NNS play in constructing aircraft carriers?
NNS is the only shipyard capable of designing, building, and refueling nuclear-powered aircraft carriers for the U.S. Navy.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$HII Insider Trading Activity
$HII insiders have traded $HII stock on the open market 2 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 1 have been purchases and 1 have been sales.
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Full Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Nov. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has successfully transferred the mid-body hull section of Gerald R. Ford -class aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80), allowing the shipyard to begin the concurrent assembly of two Gerald R. Ford -class aircraft carriers in the same dry dock.
The evolution began Thursday, Oct. 31 with the controlled process of slowly filling the dry dock with more than 100 million gallons of water, marking the first time CVN 80 has been floated. It was then transferred to the west end of the dry dock, where construction on the ship will continue.
Early next year, the shipyard expects to commence assembling Doris Miller (CVN 81) in the east end of the dry dock, marking a historic first that two Gerald R. Ford -class aircraft carriers will be under construction in the dry dock at the same time. The dual construction of Enterprise (CVN 80) and Doris Miller (CVN 81) is enabled by the successful implementation of the CVN 80/81 two-ship contract modification awarded in 2019 and modifications made to the dry dock by NNS with investment by HII and the U.S. Navy.
Photos and a video accompany this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/hii-moves-enterprise-cvn-80-for-first-time-enabling-construction-of-two-aircraft-carriers-at-once/ .
“It is only fitting for this Enterprise , CVN 80, to be part of a historic first at NNS, considering the previous Enterprise , CVN 65, was the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, proudly built here at the shipyard,” said Les Smith, NNS vice president Enterprise (CVN 80), Doris Miller (CVN 81) and future aircraft carrier programs. “Thousands of dedicated shipbuilders are working with urgency on these aircraft carriers that we know will play a vital role in the Navy’s fleet.”
NNS is the only shipyard capable of designing, building and refueling nuclear-powered aircraft carriers for the Navy. Enterprise is the first aircraft carrier designed digitally and built digitally using visual work instructions on laptops and tablets rather than paper drawings.
About HII
HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII’s mission is to deliver the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.
As the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
- HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/
- HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII
- HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII
- HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII
Contact:
Todd Corillo
[email protected]
(757) 688-3220
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c8c59113-50a5-478e-815d-088d32e86254
