HII breaks ground for new JMAF
The Newport News Shipbuilding division of Huntington Ingalls Industries broke ground for its new Joint Manufacturing Assembly Facility (JMAF) on 22 June.
The JMAF will support submarine and aircraft carrier construction and is set to open in 2017. The first phases of the facility will have production bays to facilitate the shipyard in completing its current contracts for the Virginia-class submarine and Gerald R Ford-class aircraft carrier.
Once complete, the JMAF will have multiple worksites, heavyweight cranes, automated equipment, specialty paint bays and large transportation doors. It will support existing and future production work on submarines and aircraft carriers.
Matt Mulherin, president, Newport News Shipbuilding, said: 'We aren’t just breaking ground on a new facility, we’re breaking the mould on how we build aircraft carriers and submarines. The improvements will increase productivity and efficiency, all while driving down overall cost and ensuring schedule performance.'
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Hanwha Ocean and TKMS are firming up their Canadian next-gen submarine proposals]()
Hanwha Ocean and TKMS are firming up their Canadian next-gen submarine proposals
CPSP competitors are proposing platforms fitted with advanced, next-generation capabilities to be built and sustained in cooperation with the Canadian industry.
-
![UK’s $1 billion AUKUS support request signals strong ongoing US collaboration]()
UK’s $1 billion AUKUS support request signals strong ongoing US collaboration
The latest foreign military sales request from the UK has implications for the future of the programme and collaboration between the three nations.
-
![What the rise of interoperability between Western allies means for defence procurement]()
What the rise of interoperability between Western allies means for defence procurement
Major naval initiatives including the European Patrol Corvette programmes and Norway’s UK partnership-focused purchase of Type 26 frigates point to the growing interest in the advantages of commonality across allied navies.
