First steel cut for future aircraft carrier Doris Miller
The first cut of steel for the future aircraft carrier Doris Miller. (Photo: HII.)
The steel cutting ceremony marked the first construction milestone for the future carrier Doris Miller.
On 25 August, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) hosted the ceremonial cutting of the first steel for the future Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, Doris Miller.
Doris Miller’s keel will be laid in 2026, and the ship delivered to the USN in 2032. HII’s Newport News site is currently performing early manufacturing of the vessel.
Thomas Bledsoe, great-nephew of the ship’s namesake, gave the order to cut the steel. Officials, shipbuilders and relatives of Doris Miller then signed the first plate.
The ship’s namesake earned the Navy Cross for heroic actions while serving aboard USS West Virginia during the attack on Pearl Harbour.
Doris Miller is the second ship of a two-carrier contract awarded to HII in January 2019 for the design and construction of two Ford-class vessels.
The Ford-class carrier features software-controlled electromagnetic catapults and weapons elevators and requires twice the electrical capacity of the preceding Nimitz-class.
Earlier this month, HII has passed a significant milestone in the construction of the John F. Kennedy carrier, one of four Ford-class carriers ordered by the USN.
More than 80% of the total work on the John F. Kennedy has been completed; delivery to the USN is scheduled for 2024.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![RTX Raytheon advances with the development of new Barracuda mine neutraliser]()
RTX Raytheon advances with the development of new Barracuda mine neutraliser
The new Barracuda version has been engineered to perform enhanced subsea and seabed warfare missions.
-
![US Coast Guard to receive the largest single acquisition funding in its history]()
US Coast Guard to receive the largest single acquisition funding in its history
The nearly $25 billion investment will cover USCG procurement of cutters, aircraft, helicopters, training simulators and Polar capabilities over the next four years.
-
![US Coast Guard enhances Arctic protection with a new Fast Response Cutter]()
US Coast Guard enhances Arctic protection with a new Fast Response Cutter
After commissioning, FRC Frederick Mann will operate in Alaska and perform multiple missions.
-
![US Coast Guard announces measures to further implement Force Design 2028 strategy]()
US Coast Guard announces measures to further implement Force Design 2028 strategy
The US Coast Guard (USCG) created new units, including five Programme Executive Offices (PEOs), to facilitate and speed up the procurement of new capabilities.
-
![Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear]()
Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear
The US Navy does not have a precise date for the award of the procurement contract for the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer despite having the funds to advance with the programme in FY2025.
-
![US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes]()
US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes
The US Navy (USN) is currently reassessing its acquisition efforts and seeking ways to reduce the multiple delays across the shipbuilding initiatives.
