Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has begun training crew members after the first of 2,700 compartments of the Gerard R Ford-class John F Kennedy (CVN 79) aircraft carrier were handed over to the US Navy.
This allows sailors to train in spaces whilst the final phase of outfitting and testing is completed at HII’s Newport News division in Virginia, the company announced on 27 February.
Mike Butler, John F Kennedy programme manager, said: ‘The first sailors coming on board is a significant step in the life of the ship… Our completing and turning over these spaces to the crew will allow them to start on-hands, shipboard training, and learn the systems and components they will operate when the ship joins the fleet.’
The vessel was launched in December 2019 and over the next two years the final spaces will be completed such as the berthing and mess areas.
RTX’s solution for DARPA’s Pulling Guard programme is intended to provide advanced maritime defence technologies to protect platforms against uncrewed surface vehicles and other threats.
The Spanish Navy’s Alvaro de Bazan-class of air defence frigates will receive the latest Aegis Weapon System technology among other modernisations to extend the service life to 2045.
Shipbuilders are saying the programme is going ahead on time as the government estimates 7.7 million tonnes of steel are needed for 2026 infrastructure projects.
In an exclusive interview with Shephard, Raytheon’s VP of Shipboard Missiles disclosed what improvements the company plans to offer for the Sea Sparrow NSV.
Delays in the construction of the Polar Security Cutter – the future substitute for the Polar Star – are likely to prolong the ageing icebreaker’s service time even more, putting the USCG in a risky position.
The adaptable design of Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 frigate, already selected by the UK Royal Navy and Poland, has led to more orders from Indonesia while other countries continue to weigh it up.
Connect with us on socials
