The Pentagon's top weapons buyer has granted the Navy permission to award the primary construction contract for the second of its next-generation aircraft carriers to shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries, a defense department spokeswoman confirmed. Frank Kendall on Wednesday signed an acquisition decision memorandum allowing the Navy to proceed with an estimated $4 billion design and construction contract for the John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) and an advanced procurement contract for the third ship, the Enterprise (CVN-80), Pentagon spokeswoman Maureen Schumann told...
