US awards long-lead contract for next aircraft carrier amid Ford-class uncertainty

This rendering of a Ford-class carrier shows EMALS, AWEs, and other technological advancements designed into the ship. (Newport News Shipbuilding)

The US Navy (USN) has awarded HII a USD336 million undefinitised contract to start procurement of long-lead time propulsion plant materials for the construction of planned aircraft carrier William J Clinton (CVN 82) at its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division in Virginia.

The contract for the fifth Ford-class carrier is a “critical first step” to begin planning for the ship construction, Bryan Caccavale, NNS vice president of programme management, said in a statement.

Caccavale also said the contract sends a “demand” signal to suppliers across the aircraft carrier industrial base.

However, the future of Ford-class ships remains uncertain following an executive order from President Donald Trump to submit a plan for significant changes to the carriers, potentially leading to a redesign of that class.

Trump sent a memorandum on 13 August to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, directing him to submit plans for replacing electromagnetic elevators, catapult, and arrestor systems aboard Ford-class carriers to systems that use traditional steam and hydraulics.

The memorandum calls for Hegseth, with consultation of Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, to provide the White House, within 60 days of 13 August, through the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the assistant to the president for National Security Affairs, a plan on the “required measures” to replace the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Weapons Elevators (AWEs) with steam and hydraulic systems on aircraft carrier Doris Miller (CVN 81), including timelines and resourcing requirements.

Cao sent an internal navy memo on 28 August regarding the presidential directives, the USN confirmed to Janes