HII raises concerns about possible carrier and amphibious issues in FY25 budget proposal

HII is bracing itself for two big challenges in the Pentagon’s next budget request. Chris Kastner told reporters that the Navy should adopt a 2-3-4 strategy for aircraft carriers: Buy two at a time, with three years of advanced procurement funding for each, spaced four years apart. The Navy in 2019 simultaneously bought its last two carriers, the Enterprise and the Doris Miller, with hull numbers 80 and 81, respectively. A Newport News Shipbuilding executive called the potential delay “extremely disappointing.” Kastner said he is confident that, even if the Pentagon determines it must move to another design, HII will continue to play a role in building some kind of amphibious ship. Its Ingalls Shipbuilding yard in Mississippi is the sole builder of amphibs.