The $185.2
million contract option funds the continuation of planning, long-lead-time
material procurement, shop fabrication, shipboard inspections and facilities
readiness for the upcoming RCOH in 2017. The planning work will be performed
at Newport News.
“The company looks forward to our continued partnership with the
Navy as we complete the planning efforts in support of the start of
the RCOH next summer,” said Chris Miner, Newport News’ vice
president of in-service aircraft carrier programs. “This contract
award allows the continued planning for all the work associated with
a full RCOH, which underscores the Navy’s continued commitment
to ensuring this great national asset remains in the fleet and operational
for another 25 years.”
An RCOH is a full recapitalization of the ship that represents greater
than 35 percent of all maintenance and modernization in an aircraft
carrier’s 50-year service life. Work includes the refueling of
the ship’s reactors, as well as extensive modernization work to
more than 2,300 compartments, 600 tanks and hundreds of distributive
systems. In addition, major upgrades are made to the ship’s food
service areas, aircraft launch and recovery systems, combat systems
and the ship’s island. The support of about 3,700 shipbuilders
from all areas of the company, including engineering, planning, supply
chain, the shops and trades is required to successfully accomplish an
RCOH. |
