NORFOLK, Va. – USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) successfully completed sea trials off the coast of Virginia this week, marking the successful conclusion of its inaugural Planned Incremental Availability (PIA). The milestone follows six months of modernization and maintenance work at Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia.
As pressures on the global supply chain continue disrupting the U.S. economy, there is a great deal of conversation about the causes, impacts, and solutions. But only focusing on the current global supply chain disruption will not solve the short- and long-term challenges facing the national-security supply chain.
The Navy is confident in its supply chain and the availability of spare parts to build and sustain its aircraft carriers, as the lead ship in the Gerald R. Ford class gears up for its first deployment, two service officials said last week.
Rep. Rob Wittman and Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria both support increased defense spending, and are opposed to a reduction of aircraft carriers.
Read from ACIBC Chairman Rick Giannini on how maintaining the industrial base to build the cutting-edge ships of the future starts with adequately funding aircraft carrier construction and maintenance projects on-time.
The USS Gerald R. Ford is the lead ship in a new generation of large-deck, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Like every other major effort to transform U.S. Navy warfighting capabilities, the Ford has been criticized for taking too long, costing too much, and not living up to its advanced billing.
This video message is from Huntington Ingalls Industries CEO Mike Petters where he addresses HII stakeholders, including the supplier base, on their continuing actions with regard to COVID-19.
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