NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Nov. 21, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) received a $558.6 million contract modification to exercise an option under a previously awarded contract for continuation of work on the new generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, CVN 21. A total of $85.2 million has been funded under current continuing resolution authority.
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The company's Newport News sector is the prime contractor for the award. Work performed under this contract includes the continuation of ship design activities, procurement of long-lead-time materials to support construction, and advanced construction work on select parts of the ship.
"We've made significant progress on the CVN 21 program over the past year as we have continued with design development and advanced component construction in our steel shops," said Mike Shawcross, vice president of the CVN 21 program at Northrop Grumman Newport News. "This contract modification signifies the continued support of the program and its importance to the future of our naval forces."
Enhancements being incorporated in the CVN 21 class design include flight deck changes resulting in increased sortie rates; improved weapons movement; a redesigned island; a new nuclear power plant; increased electrical power generation capacity; allowance for future technologies and reduced workload for the sailors, translating to a smaller crew size.
Northrop Grumman Newport News, headquartered in Newport News, Va., is the nation's sole designer, builder and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of only two companies capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines. Newport News also provides after-market services for a wide array of naval and commercial vessels. The Newport News sector employs about 19,000 people.
