June 22, 2015
NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING BREAKS GROUND FOR JOINT MANUFACTURING ASSEMBLY FACILITY
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (June 22, 2015) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE:HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division broke ground today for the shipyard’s new Joint Manufacturing Assembly Facility (JMAF), which will support the construction of aircraft carriers and submarines.
The first phases of the facility, opening in 2017, will feature production bays to improve construction efficiencies under current contracts for the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier and Virginia-class submarine programs.
“We aren’t just breaking ground on a new facility, we’re breaking the mold on how we build aircraft carriers and submarines,” said Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin, explaining how the JMAF will bring work indoors, providing better quality of life for shipbuilders. “The improvements will increase productivity and efficiency, all while driving down overall cost and ensuring schedule performance.”
The facility will feature multiple worksites, advanced technology, automated equipment, heavyweight cranes, large transportation doors and specialty paint bays. The facility will support current and future production work on aircraft carriers and submarines.
“I’m excited about the addition of the Joint Manufacturing Assembly Facility,” said Newport News Vice Mayor Robert S. Coleman. “This facility will allow us to retain significant high-paying jobs in Newport News in the future and will allow future generations to know that the greatest ships the world has ever known were built right here in Newport News.”
Newport News Vice Mayor Rob Coleman (third from right) joined Newport News Shipbuilding leaders and employees for the ground-breaking ceremony of the new Joint Manufacturing Assembly Facility on Monday. Pictured (left to right) are: Jim Hughes, vice president, submarines and fleet support; shipbuilder Aaron Wikle; Matt Mulherin, president, Newport News Shipbuilding; Ray Bagley, vice president, trades operations; Vice Mayor Coleman; shipbuilder Betty Hazelwood; and Mike Shawcross, vice president, John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) carrier construction. Photo by Ricky Thompson
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 45,000 strong.
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