US $2.6 Billion Overhaul for US Nuke Aircraft Carrier

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) was awarded a $2.6 billion cost-plus-incentive-fee contract today for the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The work will be performed at the company's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division. 

Lincoln was originally scheduled to arrive at NNS on Feb. 14, using contract funding, but was delayed due to uncertainties surrounding the defense budget and funding of the work. The president signed legislation Tuesday enabling the Navy and NNS to move the Lincoln to the shipyard to begin the RCOH.

"Our focus will continue to be on the task at hand: modernizing and improving upon Lincoln's capabilities for another 25 years of successful service," said Chris Miner, NNS vice president, in-service aircraft carrier programs.

Lincoln's RCOH will include the refuelling of the ship's reactors, as well as extensive modernization work to more than 2,300 compartments, 600 tanks and hundreds of systems. In addition, major upgrades will be made to the flight deck, catapults, combat systems and the island, which is expected to begin immediately and continue through November 2016. 

After RCOH, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet, continuing to be a vital part of the U.S national defense.