USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and elements of their respective Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) navigate into position for a photo exercise. Kitty Hawk and Stennis CSGs recently participated in Joint Air/Sea Exercise 2004 (JASEX ‘04). Kitty Hawk is currently under way in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) as the ship demonstrates power projection and sea control as the world's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, operating from Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class William H. Ramsey
Bloomberg: Navy Weighs Buying Two More Costly Carriers in One Big Contract
* Huntington Ingalls asked to propose significant savings
* Navy Ford-class program could see expansion to four ships
The U.S. Navy is exploring whether it can achieve significant savings in parts and labor by buying its next two aircraft carriers together instead of individually, the service’s top weapons buyer said.
The Navy intends to deploy 12 aircraft carriers, up from the 11 today, as a key part of its planned expansion to 355 ships. In a request for proposals on Monday, the Navy asked shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. “to further define the cost savings achievable” if it makes a block purchase of the third and fourth carriers in the new Ford class.
A two-ship commitment would provide a major boost in revenue for Huntington Ingalls and its subcontractors, including General Atomics, which makes the aircraft launch and recovery system.
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WNU Editor: It should be cheaper.
