The United States Navy stands behind on the delivery of the USS Doris Miller carrier until February 2034. New budget estimates from April reveal a two-year delay for the fourth ship in the Ford-class fleet.
Virginia-based Newport News Shipbuilding gaps trigger this shift for the massive vessel. And the USS Enterprise currently anchors the shipyard's only assembly area equipped with the necessary heavy-lift cranes.
Space remains tight. But workers must finish the Enterprise before they can move the Doris Miller hull into the primary assembly area.
Now the Enterprise delivery date stands in March 2031 following several timelines shifts for the vessel this year. Late equipment arrivals slowed the initial build of the hull in dry dock for that specific ship.
Yet builders expect Doris Miller work to start later this year once the sequence-critical materials arrive at the yard. Time stands short.
Problems haunt the class. The USS John F. Kennedy stands delayed until March 2027 to accommodate work on its advanced weapons elevators and specialized gear.
But Secretary John Phelan reviews costs for the future USS William J. Clinton to protect the naval budget. The Navy seeks to align future builds with long-term goals and strategic requirements for the entire fleet.
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