Newport News Wins $3.8-Billion Carrier Job

Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. said it won a U.S. Navy contract valued at about $3.8 billion to design and build the 10th Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, CVN 77. The carrier is scheduled for delivery in 2008 and will serve as the first transition ship to a new class of carriers, Newport News said. The company will also be responsible for delivering the ship’s warfare systems, which was a task previously performed by the Navy. That includes development and procurement of the warfare system through a subcontract to Lockheed Martin Corp. and overall integration of the system into the ship. Newport News said the carrier’s warfare system will incorporate a new multi-function radar system and an information network that can integrate new technology. Shares in the Newport News, Va.-based company rose 38 cents to close at $49.06 on the New York Stock Exchange.