The future USS John F Kennedy comes together
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.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US senators raise Russian concerns over unprepared Coast Guard fleet]()
US senators raise Russian concerns over unprepared Coast Guard fleet
US Congress senators have warned that the US Coast Guard’s fleet cannot protect Arctic waters against Russian naval capabilities.
-
![New deal to make AUKUS cooperation easier]()
New deal to make AUKUS cooperation easier
The AUKUS agreement will support Australia’s purchase of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines under pillar one. Other pillars of the agreement cover high technology such as cyber, unmanned systems, AI, EW, undersea capabilities and information sharing between the three countries.
-
![Kongsberg contracted for Dutch and Belgian frigate propellers and drive shafts]()
Kongsberg contracted for Dutch and Belgian frigate propellers and drive shafts
In July 2023, Damen and Thales signed contracts to design, build and deliver four new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates for Belgium and the Netherlands.
-
![Leonardo fires up small calibre naval gun development as Italy nears first Lionfish X-Gun handover]()
Leonardo fires up small calibre naval gun development as Italy nears first Lionfish X-Gun handover
Alongside progress on its Lionfish contracts, Leonardo emphasised its shift in focus from traditional larger calibre systems toward smaller calibre solutions, epitomised by the X-Gun’s inception in 2017.
-
![SEA to trial sonar software for UK Royal Navy]()
SEA to trial sonar software for UK Royal Navy
The UK Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare Spearhead programme, run by the service’s Develop Directorate, has been investigating future and existing technologies with a particular focus on the USV arena.
-
![Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD]()
Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD
A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.
