Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) celebrated a crescendo in naval engineering by ceremoniously laying the keel of the future USS Enterprise (CVN 80) at its Newport News Shipbuilding division on August 27, 2022. It was the ceremonial beginning of construction for the third Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, a ship that will pay homage to the world’s most advanced naval capabilities.
The ceremony was attended by U.S. Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky, who are the sponsors of the ship. Although Ledecky attended in person, Biles participated in the video. Their initials were welded onto a steel plate that will be attached to the ship, and fastened to it permanently, symbolizing their lasting relationship with the shipbuilders and crew.
Under Secretary of the Navy, Erik Raven commented on the critical role that aircraft carriers play in national defense, impressing on shipbuilders the importance of their work. “Our aircraft carriers would not be possible without the designers and builders right here at Newport News Shipbuilding,” said Raven. He let them know every effort put into building the vessel helped reinforce naval and national greatness.
Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding, was all praise for the talented workforce behind the Enterprise’s construction, saying it takes dedicated men and women to convert 100,000 tons of steel and technology into a floating fortress that doubles as a home, workplace, and shield for Navy sailors. “Shipbuilding takes discipline, precision, and an unrelenting drive for excellence,” said Boykin, underscoring what is necessary in meeting the high expectations set by the Navy.
The USS Enterprise CVN 80 will be the ninth U.S. Navy vessel to bear this name, continuing a storied legacy. Notably, 35,000 pounds of steel from the decommissioned CVN 65, the first nuclear power-driven aircraft carrier, will find its way into the new ship, guaranteeing that the legacy of the Enterprise lives on.
The Ford class was designed to replace the aging Nimitz-class carriers, with a lane of advancements, including a new nuclear power plant, electromagnetic catapults, improved weapons movement, and an enhanced flight deck meant to increase operational efficiency. The Enterprise is unique as it is the first aircraft carrier designed and built entirely in digital format, with visual work instructions on laptops and tablets instead of paper drawings.
The construction of the Enterprise is part of a two-carrier block buy for the Navy, with work also underway on the Doris Miller, CVN 81. Ford-class carriers, specifically USS Gerald R. Ford, CVN 78, and John F. Kennedy, CVN 79, are the future of Naval warfare, applying many lessons learned from previous builds for efficiency and capability.
Now, as America celebrates the 100-year legacy of aircraft carriers, every single carrier at sea in the U.S. Navy fleet was built right here at Newport News Shipbuilding. The Enterprise represents the future of shipbuilding with its digital design and construction, further attesting to the innovative spirit and continuing commitment to excellence of this shipyard.