US Navy receives final Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship
The delivery acceptance of the future USS Pierre marks the conclusion of the construction phase for the Independence-variant.
The USN carrier Gerald R. Ford pictured in 2017 after completing sea trials. (Photo: USN/ Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Ruiz)
Huntington Ingalls Newport News is to conduct ‘planned incremental availability’ work on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the DoD announced on 28 July.
Work on a $94.8 million delivery order from the USN is scheduled for completion by March 2022.
In June 2019, the USN awarded Huntington Ingalls a $687 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, IDIQ contract for early service life period work on the Gerald R. Ford, which entered service in 2017 as the first ship in its class. The work included support ship repair and modernisation during continuous maintenance and emergent maintenance during the early service period.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the four Gerald R Ford-class carriers will be at the forefront of US power projection over the next 50 years as they enter service, employing new technologies that will enhance operational capabilities far beyond their predecessors.
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.
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.