The USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) steams through the Atlantic Ocean on April 13, 2022, underway conducting carrier qualifications and strike group integration prior to operational deployment. (Photo: U.S. Navy by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Riley McDowell)
By Rich Abott |
@ReaderRabott
1 year ago |
06/22/2023
Navy/USMC

Austal USA started building aluminum aircraft elevators for the future Ford-class aircraft carriers Enterprise

(CVN-80) and Doris Miller (CVN-81), the company announced on Wednesday.

The company is fabricating two shipsets of elevators, consisting of three elevators per ship, for six elevators total at its module manufacturing facility (MMF) in Mobile, Ala. 

The USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) steams through the Atlantic Ocean on April 13, 2022, underway conducting carrier qualifications and strike group integration prior to operational deployment. (Photo: U.S. Navy by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Riley McDowell)
The USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) steams through the Atlantic Ocean on April 13, 2022, underway conducting carrier qualifications and strike group integration prior to operational deployment. (Photo: U.S. Navy by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Riley McDowell)

The elevator sets are planned to be finished by November 2024 and March 2025, respectively. 

“Austal USA is excited to begin construction on the CVN aircraft elevators. This opportunity to demonstrate our advanced manufacturing capabilities to support a program critical to our Nation’s defense is welcomed by our talented workforce,” Austal USA Vice President of New Construction Programs Dave Growden said in a statement.

CVN-80 and 81 are currently under construction at the prime contractor, HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding [HII] facility in Virginia.

Austal said it completed a major capital investment program for MMF in April 2022. The MMF is capable of producing both steel and aluminum modules for the Navy and Coast Guard.