FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
2000
2000 - 1182.PDF
NAVAL AVIATION The US Navy's future flat-tops will be built to stay in service until the end of the century RAMON LOPEZ/NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA TOMORROW'S aircraft carriers are tak ing shape on the computer screens of US Navy and industry officials in charge of designing and building die final Nimitz- class carrier, the CVN 77, and the future CVNX - the carrier class intended to serve until the end of the 21st century. Two years ago, the USN abruptly changed course on its future flat-tops. The plan to move from the CVN 68 Nimitz-class to a "clean- sheet" CVNX baseline was deemed unafford- able and risky. Some observers say the CVNX needs a new design, but Michael Petters, vice-president and general manager, aircraft carriers, for Newport News Shipbuilding, sees the need to "efficient ly and cost-effectively evolve die design as we go forward". A new strategy was developed to evolve to a new CVNX baseline over a series of transition al ships, beginning with the CVN 77. It was also determined diat the new nuclear-powered large-deck carriers - equivalent in size to the CVN 68 - should be capable of supporting a 7 5- aircraft air wing, but the USN is rethinking the make-up of its carrier aviation force. The USN maintains 12 active carriers and their tactical aviation assets, including 10 active- duty carrier air wings and one reserve wing. It is committed to keeping at least a dozen carriers indefinitely, but a debate is under way on the need for as many as 15. The nuclear-powered Nimitz-class warships are in the 90,000t displacement category and are almost 335m (1,100ft) long. Each has four steam catapults to launch aircraft and four arresting wires are used to recover them. Each air wing has 70 aircraft, including Grumman F-14 Tomcats, Boeing F/A-18 Hornets, Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft and helicopters. The CVN 77 vessel is the transition ship to the future CVNX class, which will serve until the late 21st century NNS, the only US shipyard able to build nuclear-capable carriers, is soon to deliver the S5 billion USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) - the ninth Nimitz-class nuclear carrier. It will replace the USS Constellation (CV64) in 2003. The CVN 77 will then succeed the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) in 2008. Serving as the first step in the phased transition to the CVNX baseline, the CVN 77, which will cost about as much as the CVN 76, will feature no radical changes to the basic Nimitz-class design. It will, however, incorporate significant improvements, including an integrated combat system, a reduced radar signature island struc ture with a multifunction, phased-array radar and other flat-plan antennas, and propulsion plant improvements. Petters says the CVN 77's design will be solidified within months. SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENTS This year, NNS chose Lockheed Martin over Raytheon as the warfare systems integrator for the CVN 77. As part of the $500 million, seven- year contract, the company will improve the interoperability among the sensors, communi cations, aircraft control, armaments and other electronic systems on the ship. Data sources will be consolidated to provide a clear and coherent tactical picture to all crew- members. Automation will reduce crew work- 34 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 11 - 17 April 2000
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
