The future USS John F Kennedy, the US Navy’s next aircraft carrier, has had its final major steel structural section installed by Huntington Ingalls’ Newport News Shipbuilding division.
The section, known as a superlift, comprises the upper bow section and the forward portion of the flight deck, weighing 780 tons.
Lesson learned from the construction of the lead ship of class USS Gerald R Ford by the shipyard has resulted in changes to the build process, including fewer and larger superlifts, with the build requiring 18 percent fewer construction manhours than Gerald R Ford.
The shipbuilder has also increased the use of digital shipbuilding technologies, using virtual walkthroughs in the 3D product model and other data to determine what work, such as equipment installations and electrical work, can occur prior to erecting the superlift on the ship, in order to increase the level of outfitting and equipment installation.
The vessel is set to be launched and christened by the end of 2019.
Forming part of the Reconciliation Bill, the funding will support multiple efforts involving autonomous capabilities, interceptors, missiles, rockets and torpedoes.
The delivery acceptance of the future USS Pierre marks the conclusion of the construction phase for the Independence-variant.
The new Barracuda version has been engineered to perform enhanced subsea and seabed warfare missions.
The nearly $25 billion investment will cover USCG procurement of cutters, aircraft, helicopters, training simulators and Polar capabilities over the next four years.
After commissioning, FRC Frederick Mann will operate in Alaska and perform multiple missions.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) created new units, including five Programme Executive Offices (PEOs), to facilitate and speed up the procurement of new capabilities.
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