US Navy to block-buy two Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers

The US Navy has informed lawmakers of its intent to pursue a block purchase of two additional Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers.

This comes nine months after the navy asked shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) for detailed pricing on the cost of two carriers.

Class lead ship USS Gerald R. Ford (pictured) cost approximately US$13 billion, making it the most expensive ship in the navy. A total of about US$43 billion is expected to be spent on building the first three ships in the class.

Navy officials, HII, and US Senate Armed Services Committee member Tim Kaine have all agreed that multi-ship purchases could ensure up to billions of dollars in savings as opposed to individual ship purchases made over time.