Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has received an undefinitised contract award from the US Navy to shift the delivery strategy for the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy from a two-phase to a single phase delivery.
The contract action revises the two-phased delivery approach originally planned for the second ship in the Gerald R. Ford-class of carriers.
The contract comes as a result of extensive collaboration with the navy to support legislative requirements for Kennedy to be delivered with its complete warfare system, including F-35 Joint Strike Fighter capabilities, before the ship is commissioned into the fleet.
The contract action has a potential total value of up to US$315 million, provides initial funding for the procurement of long-lead material and planning, and is expected to be definitised next year.
HII claims Kennedy is approximately 76 per cent complete. The ship was launched in December 2019, and is currently undergoing additional outfitting and testing at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division.
The carrier is scheduled to be delivered to the navy in 2024.
