NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Huntington Ingalls Industries was awarded a $152 million contract Monday for planning the construction of what will be the next USS Enterprise.
The Enterprise (CVN 80) is the third aircraft carrier in the Gerald R. Ford class and is named in honor of the Navy’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN 65).
The former USS Enterprise made her final voyage in 2013.
The work will include engineering, design, planning and procurement of long-lead-time material.
“We are eager to begin planning and purchasing long-lead-time material for the next Enterprise,” said Mike Shawcross, Newport News’ vice president of CVN 79 and CVN 80 construction. “Advance planning allows us to begin applying lessons learned from CVN 78 and CVN 79 more effectively, while providing stability to our workforce and the industrial base, in order to deliver the ship at the lowest cost possible.”
Construction is set to start in 2018 with delivery to the Navy in 2027.
