First steel cut for future aircraft carrier Doris Miller
The first cut of steel for the future aircraft carrier Doris Miller. (Photo: HII.)
The steel cutting ceremony marked the first construction milestone for the future carrier Doris Miller.
On 25 August, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) hosted the ceremonial cutting of the first steel for the future Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, Doris Miller.
Doris Miller’s keel will be laid in 2026, and the ship delivered to the USN in 2032. HII’s Newport News site is currently performing early manufacturing of the vessel.
Thomas Bledsoe, great-nephew of the ship’s namesake, gave the order to cut the steel. Officials, shipbuilders and relatives of Doris Miller then signed the first plate.
The ship’s namesake earned the Navy Cross for heroic actions while serving aboard USS West Virginia during the attack on Pearl Harbour.
Doris Miller is the second ship of a two-carrier contract awarded to HII in January 2019 for the design and construction of two Ford-class vessels.
The Ford-class carrier features software-controlled electromagnetic catapults and weapons elevators and requires twice the electrical capacity of the preceding Nimitz-class.
Earlier this month, HII has passed a significant milestone in the construction of the John F. Kennedy carrier, one of four Ford-class carriers ordered by the USN.
More than 80% of the total work on the John F. Kennedy has been completed; delivery to the USN is scheduled for 2024.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![£30 million UK-New Zealand deal sends new uncrewed vehicles to Ukraine]()
£30 million UK-New Zealand deal sends new uncrewed vehicles to Ukraine
Sam Vye, the CEO of SYOS Aerospace, which supplied the vehicles, explained the rapid development and deployment of assets in the uncrewed world.
-
![HII delivers first two Lionfish SUUVs to US Navy]()
HII delivers first two Lionfish SUUVs to US Navy
The SUUVs could be part of a programme that scales to 200 vehicles.
-
![Indian Navy’s next generation OPV fleet advances with keel-laying of third vessel]()
Indian Navy’s next generation OPV fleet advances with keel-laying of third vessel
The ship is the third in a fleet of 11, with the first vessel due to be delivered in 2026.
-
![Fincantieri and TKMS partner for Philippine submarine bid]()
Fincantieri and TKMS partner for Philippine submarine bid
The companies have banded together to promote the Fincantieri U212 NFS offering, and hinted that the collaboration may not be a one-bid phenomenon.
-
![New enhanced FREMM frigate delivered to Italian Navy]()
New enhanced FREMM frigate delivered to Italian Navy
The frigate, Spartaco Schergat, is equipped for a broad range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare.
