Suppliers of critical parts for Ford-class aircraft carriers could suffer if the U.S. Navy delays a planned buy of the multibillion-dollar ships, executives from shipmaker HII said. The delayed purchase would be the latest blow to a sector that’s still recovering from numerous pandemic-driven supply chain disruptions. The Navy’s acting acquisition chief, Jay Stefany, recently said the service is weighing when it should buy its next two Ford-class carriers, CVN-82 and CVN-83.
HII is the only U.S. company that builds aircraft carriers. The Navy’s purchase of CVN-80 and CVN-81 was supposed to save $4 billion through a block buy, but supply problems during the COVID pandemic put construction of CVN-80 roughly a year behind schedule. HII also needs the money in the broader defense supplemental package to meet the Navy’s production goals for submarines, but the money is in limbo on Capitol Hill.
Company executives also discussed the health of the shipbuilding industrial base, which is facing a heavy load as the Navy tries to balance building new aircraft carriers and other surface combatants with Columbia- and Virginia-class submarine construction. Kastner said there is “broad agreement” that the Marine Corps needs at least 31 amphibious ships, and HII is waiting on the Navy’s study on amphibious ship requirements.
