HII Awarded $745 Million Contract to Inactivate USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced today that the company has received a $745 million cost-plus-incentive fee contract for the inactivation of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). The work will be done at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division.

 

The ship was towed from Naval Station Norfolk to NNS on June 20 under the existing planning contract. NNS will defuel the ship's eight reactors and prepare Enterprise for its eventual transit to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. The work is scheduled to complete in August 2016. More than 1,000 employees will support her inactivation.

"Although Newport News Shipbuilding has defueled and refueled many ships, including Enterprise, this is the first inactivation of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier," said Chris Miner, NNS' vice president, in-service aircraft carrier programs. "Our shipbuilders know Enterprise well and have enjoyed working on her over her decades of service. We are extremely proud of her great legacy, so it is with heavy hearts that we will work to retire this one-of-a-kind ship."

Built by Newport News shipbuilders and launched in September 1960, Enterprise served a record 51 consecutive years. The ship was the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the only one in her class. Enterprise aided in the Cuban Missile Crisis and operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn, as well as naval maritime security operations.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) designs, builds and maintains nuclear and non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe. For more than a century, HII has built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder at its Newport News Shipbuilding and Ingalls Shipbuilding divisions. Employing about 37,000 in Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana and California, HII also provides a wide variety of products and services to the commercial energy industry and other government customers, including the Department of Energy.

                  

Statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these statements. Factors that may cause such differences include: changes in government and customer priorities and requirements (including government budgetary constraints, shifts in defense spending, and changes in customer short-range and long-range plans); our ability to obtain new contracts, estimate our costs and perform effectively; risks related to our spin-off from Northrop Grumman (including our increased costs and leverage); our ability to realize the expected benefits from consolidation of our Gulf Coast facilities; natural disasters; adverse economic conditions in the United States and globally; and other risk factors discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. There may be other risks and uncertainties that we are unable to predict at this time or that we currently do not expect to have a material adverse effect on our business, and we undertake no obligations to update any forward-looking statements.

Ingalls-built Anchorage (LPD 23) Successfully Completes U.S. Navy Acceptance Trials

Huntington Ingalls Industries  announced today the completion of another successful sea trial as the amphibious transport dock Anchorage (LPD 23) returned from a three-day testing voyage in the Gulf of Mexico. The company's seventh ship in the LPD 17 class returned Friday following rigorous testing of most of the ship's systems. The ship is currently under construction at Ingalls' Avondale facility.

"The objective of any shipbuilding program is to continuously improve performance, and this sea trial proves that notion," said Doug Lounsberry, Ingalls' vice president and program manager, LPD 17 Program. "It never ceases to amaze me how a sea trial comes together. It's an overwhelming amount of logistics and coordination, yet our team continuously performs well. I'm also proud of the shipbuilders' efforts for getting LPD 23 ready for this acceptance trial. The ship handled her three days at sea very well, and now we've got to continue effective work as we prepare to deliver the ship to the Navy in the third quarter. Congratulations to all involved with this sea trial."

During the five-day acceptance trial evolution on land and at sea, the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) observed more than 220 test events demonstrated on the ship by Ingalls' test and trials team. The team thoroughly tested ship systems such as anchor handling, flight operations, steering, navigation, ballasting and de-ballasting the well deck, and compartment air balancing.

"Once again, our strong partnership with the Navy/SupShip team worked well during this acceptance trial," said Richard Schenk, Ingalls' vice president of test and trials. "LPD 23 proved herself ready as we demonstrated the major systems on the ship, including some weapons system testing. This successful sea trial is a credit to the test and trials team and all the dedicated shipbuilders who played a part in building Anchorage. A 'well done' to everyone associated with this acceptance trial."

The 11 ships of the LPD 17 class are a key element of the Navy's ability to project power ashore. Collectively, they functionally replace more than 41 ships (the LPD 4, LSD 36, LKA 113 and LST 1179 classes of amphibious ships), providing the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, sea-based platforms that are networked, survivable and built to operate with 21st century platforms, such as the MV-22 Osprey.

Ingalls has delivered six ships in the class and has four more in various stages of construction, including LPD 23. Advance procurement contracts have been awarded for an 11th ship, LPD 27.

The LPD 17-class ships are 684 feet long and 105 feet wide and displace approximately 25,000 tons. Their principal mission is to deploy the combat and support elements of Marine Expeditionary Units and Brigades. The ships can carry up to 800 troops and have the capability of transporting and debarking air cushion (LCAC) or conventional landing crafts, augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing aircraft such as the MV-22. These ships will support amphibious assault, special operations or expeditionary warfare missions through the first half of the 21st century.

Ingalls Shipbuilding Launches the Multi-Purpose Amphibious Assault Ship America (LHA 6)

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced today that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division launched the U.S. Navy's next amphibious assault ship, America (LHA 6), from the company's floating drydock on Monday.

Tugboats guide the amphibious assault ship America (LHA 6) to her berthing place on Monday at Ingalls Shipbuilding. The Ingalls-built amphibious transport dock Arlington (LPD 24) can be seen in the background. America will be christened on Oct. 20.

"Launching a large-deck ship is a significant milestone requiring several highly skilled shipyard crafts and a complex logistics plan," said Brian Cuccias, Ingalls' vice president, large deck amphibious ships. "As the Navy's longtime sole provider of these important ships, we are unique in our ability to draw on the specialized experience our shipbuilders have in the safe and efficient translation and launch of a warship of this size."

The ship, weighing more than 29,000 tons in its current state, became one of the largest objects moved across land when it was translated to the drydock two weeks ago. Following additional planning and preparation, the launch process occurred utilizing the drydock's ballast system on Monday afternoon, and the ship floated free.

"This is an exceptional milestone for the LHA program that was conducted flawlessly," said LHA 6 Program Manager George Jones. "I am proud of the team who made this happen and who continue to do quality work in this program."

Ingalls received a $2.38 billion contract to build the next ship in the class, Tripoli (LHA 7), last week. LHA 6 and LHA 7 are the first two ships in the new America class of amphibious assault ships. The ships are 844 feet long and 106 feet wide and will displace 44,971 long tons. The gas turbine propulsion system will drive the ships in excess of 20 knots. They will accommodate 1,059 crew (65 officers) and 1,687 troops. They will be capable of carrying a Marine Expeditionary Unit, including Marine helicopters, MV‐22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and F‐35B Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft.

The America class has an increased aviation capacity to include an enlarged hangar deck, realignment and expansion of the aviation maintenance facilities, a significant increase in available stowage for parts and support equipment, and increased aviation fuel capacity. Similar to its predecessors, the ship will be able to operate as the flagship for an Expeditionary Strike Group. Ingalls has built five Tarawa (LHA 1) class ships as well as eight Wasp (LHD 1) class ships.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) designs, builds and maintains nuclear and non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe. For more than a century, HII has built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. Employing nearly 38,000 in Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana and California, its primary business divisions are Newport News Shipbuilding and Ingalls Shipbuilding.