https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/us-navy-awards-14-9bn-contract-for-construction-of-two-new-aircraft-carriers/

The US Navy has awarded a contract for the construction of CVN 80 and CVN 81 to Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS).

This contract award is hoped to deliver significant savings to the US government – exceeding $4 billion when compared to the Navy’s original cost estimates to procure these CVNs separately.

“Today marks a great team effort to drive out cost and maximize efficiency in government procurement,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer.

“Focusing on optimising construction activities and material procurement, the team was able to achieve significant savings as compared to individual procurement contracts. One contract for construction of the two ships will enable the shipbuilder flexibility to best employ its skilled workforce to design once and build twice for unprecedented labor reductions while providing stability and opportunities for further efficiencies within the nuclear industrial base.”

In addition to these savings, the contract includes ship integration costs of several modifications required to meet emerging threats including the F-35C Lightning II, MK 38 gun system and MQ-25 Stingray Unmanned Aircraft System.

https://gcaptain.com/replenishment-gone-wrong-u-s-navy-cruiser-and-msc-dry-cargo-ship-collide-off-u-s-east-coast/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.com%29

A U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser and a Military Sealift Command dry cargo ship collided Tuesday during an underway replenishment off the coast of Florida, the U.S. Navy has confirmed.

The Navy said no personnel were injured when the USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) and USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5) made contact.

Both ships were able to safely operate after the incident.

“The ships had been conducting a replenishment-at-sea when the sterns touched at approximately 4 p.m. Eastern Standard time,” the Navy said in a statement.

“U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Military Sealift Command will thoroughly investigate this incident,” the statement added.

Damage will be assessed when the ships arrive in port.

The ships were conducting operations in conjunction with the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.