The US Navy has awarded HII subsidiary Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) an advanced planning contract to modernize its Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).
Under the agreement, the company will provide design, engineering, material fabrication, and procurement for the upgrade.
The US Navy will also receive documentation, resource forecasting, and pre-overhaul inspection services from the company.
The estimated value of the contract is $913 million, with NNS scheduled to complete work by June 2026.
Refueling and Complex Overhaul
According to HII, the award supports the navy’s refueling and complex overhaul project to extend the Truman’s expected operational life of 50 years.
The vessel was inducted in 1998 as the eighth Nimitz carrier. The same year, NNS received a $1.2-billion refueling and complex overhaul contract for the fleet’s lead ship, the USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
“Comprehensive planning is vitally important to the overall success of an engineering and construction project of this magnitude on the aircraft carriers that serve our nation,” NNS In-Service Aircraft Programs VP Rob Check stated.
“This contract allows us to properly plan for each step in the overhaul process, from preparing for the ship’s arrival at NNS to its redelivery back to the Navy, so that Harry S. Truman and its sailors can continue to protect peace and prosperity around the world.”
Nimitz Aircraft Carriers
A Nimitz-class platform measures 1,092 feet (333 meters) in length and has a beam of 252 feet (77 meters).
The ships are run by nuclear reactors and steam turbines that provide a speed of over 30 knots (56 kilometers/35 miles per hour).
It is protected by various weapon systems, including automated and machine guns, guided and airframe missiles, as well as 2.5-inch (64-millimeter) Kevlar coating over critical parts.
The vessel can accommodate up to 90 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft aboard.