Navy will use single-phased delivery approach for CVN-79

The Navy has decided to change course and employ a single-phased delivery approach for the second Ford-class aircraft carrier, according to a top Navy official.

A spokesman for Navy acquisition chief Hondo Geurts told Inside Defense that Geurts last week disclosed the Navy’s decision to move to a single-phased approach instead of the dual-phased approach it had planned for the John F. Kennedy (CVN-79).

“This decision was informed by lessons learned from CVN-78 delivery and in consultation with industry and the" chief of naval operations, Capt. Danny Hernandez said in a March 11 statement.

Hernandez said that despite the altered approach, the delivery timeline will not change and “a complete ship” is slated for delivery in 2024.

“Going to single phase will deliver a more capable and lethal ship to the fleet, mitigate schedule risk while providing an opportunity to reduce post-delivery costs,” Hernandez said.

“This delivery will achieve the most efficient path to deployment-ready status, comply with the [Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act] F-35 requirements and directly supports warfighting requirements outlined in the National Defense Strategy,” he added.

The Navy originally decided to use the dual phased approach as a cost-saving measure. But Congress grew frustrated with the cost overruns that have plagued the lead ship in the Ford-class and the Navy’s decision to delay the Kennedy’s integration with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The service planned to modify both the Ford and Kennedy to accommodate the F-35C during a maintenance stage after delivery.

In the FY-20 NDAA, lawmakers mandated that CVN-79 be able to deploy with the F-35C before the carrier finishes its post shakedown availability stage.