The RFP encompasses designing the river buoy tender and inland construction tender (designs which share 95% commonality), constructing an initial river buoy tender and inland construction tender based on those completed designs, and producing additional cutters. The deadline to submit responses to the RFP is July 30, 2021, at 10 a.m. Eastern standard time. Contract award is anticipated in early 2022.

On March 24, the DHS Acquisition Review Board approved the WCC program to proceed from the analyze/select phase to the obtain phase. This achievement was the culmination of several years of design analysis, industry engagement, operator input, scale-model testing and other analyses that provided valuable information on requirements, design and production schedules. The WCC acquisition program will replace the legacy inland tender fleet, which has an average vessel age of over 55 years. The current fleet is approaching obsolescence and many of the legacy cutters do not support mixed-gender crews due to original design constraints. The WCC program has accelerated the acquisition by approximately a year to ensure the Coast Guard continues to meet its vital missions throughout the Marine Transportation System.

The current inland tender fleet plays a critical role in the Coast Guard’s support of the national Marine Transportation System, which facilitates $5.4 trillion in commerce annually and sustains over 30 million jobs. The new WCCs will have greater endurance, speed and deck load capacity than their predecessors. The ships will also feature improved habitability and will accommodate mixed-gender crews.

Source:  U.S. Coast Guard
Associated URL: Click here to visit

"We are pleased with first quarter results that demonstrate another quarter of consistent program execution," said Mike Petters, HII’s president and CEO. "We are well positioned to drive long-term value creation, with an unprecedented level of backlog in-hand and a workforce that has become more capable while working through the challenges posed by COVID-19."

New contract awards in the quarter were approximately $5.3 billion, bringing total backlog to a record $48.8 billion as of March 31, 2021.

INDUSTRY SEGMENTS

Ingalls Shipbuilding

Ingalls Shipbuilding revenues for the first quarter of 2021 were $649 million, an increase of $20 million, or 3.2%, from the same period in 2020, primarily driven by higher revenues in the Arleigh Burke-class DDG program, partially offset by lower revenues in the Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC) program. DDG program revenues increased due to higher volumes on George M. Neal (DDG 131), Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) and Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), partially offset by lower volumes on USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) restoration and modernization following its redelivery and Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) following its delivery. Revenues on the NSC program decreased due to lower volume on Stone (NSC 9) following its delivery. Amphibious assault ship revenues were flat as a result of higher volumes on Pittsburgh (LPD 31), Bougainville (LHA 8) and LHA 9 (unnamed), partially offset by lower volumes on Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29), Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) and USS Tripoli (LHA 7).

Ingalls Shipbuilding segment operating income for the first quarter was $91 million, an increase of $23 million from the same period last year. Segment operating margin in the quarter was 14.0%, compared to 10.8% in the same period last year. The increases were primarily driven by higher risk retirement on Bougainville (LHA 8).

Newport News Shipbuilding

Newport News Shipbuilding revenues for the first quarter of 2021 were $1.4 billion, an increase of $66 million, or 4.9%, from the same period in 2020, driven primarily by higher revenues in aircraft carriers, naval nuclear support services, and submarines. Aircraft carrier revenues increased primarily as a result of higher volumes on Enterprise (CVN 80), the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and Doris Miller (CVN 81), partially offset by lower volumes on the John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and the RCOH of USS George Washington (CVN 73). Naval nuclear support services revenues increased primarily as a result of higher volumes in carrier and submarine fleet support services, offset by lower volume in facility maintenance services. Submarine revenues increased primarily as a result of higher volumes on the Columbia-class submarine program and the Virginia-class submarine (VCS) program. The higher volume on the VCS program was due to higher volumes on Block V boats, offset by lower volumes on Block IV boats.

Newport News Shipbuilding segment operating income for the first quarter was $93 million, compared to operating income of $95 million for the same period last year. Segment operating margin in the quarter was 6.6%, compared to 7.1% in the same period last year. The decreases were primarily due to lower risk retirement on the RCOH of USS George Washington (CVN 73), partially offset by higher risk retirement on Block IV of the VCS program.

Technical Solutions

Technical Solutions revenues for the first quarter of 2021 were $259 million, a decrease of $58 million from the same period in 2020, primarily due to the divestitures of our oil and gas business and the San Diego Shipyard, as well as lower volumes in Defense & Federal Solutions, partially offset by the acquisition of Hydroid in March of 2020.

Technical Solutions segment operating income for the first quarter was $7 million, compared to a segment operating loss of $7 million in the first quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily driven by improved performance in Defense & Federal Solutions and Nuclear & Environmental Services, as well as a gain on the sale of our oil and gas business.

Source:  Forecast International Government & Industry Group
Associated URL: www.huntingtoningalls.com
Author: R. Pettibone, Gov't & Industry  

CSSQT validated Gerald R. Ford’s self-defense capabilities and demonstrated the crew’s expertise in engaging a barrage of formidable targets. During the culminating live-fire exercise, the crew destroyed rocket-propelled drones capable of speeds in excess of 600 miles per hour; towed drone units that simulated incoming rockets; and remote controlled, high-speed maneuvering surface targets. The ship employed RIM-116 missiles; sea sparrow missiles; and rounds from the Mk-15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), which fires armor-piercing tungsten bullets at 4,500 rounds per minute. The ship’s Dual Band Radar provided accurate target identification and tracking, enabling watch standers to execute pre-planned responses.

USS Gerald R. Ford represents the first major design investment in aircraft carriers since the 1960s. The ship is engineered to support new technologies and a modern air wing essential to deterring and defeating near-peer adversaries in a complex maritime environment. Bringing a significant increase in sortie generation rate, approximately 3 times more electrical generation capacity, and a $4B reduction in total Life-Cycle cost per ship compared to a NIMITZ-class aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford class will serve as the centerpiece of strike group operations through the 21st century, supporting a host of evolving national strategic objectives.

Source:  U.S. Navy
Associated URL: Click here to visit
Author: U.S. Navy