The future USS Enterprise CVN 80 is now under construction at Newport News Shipbuilding. (Kendall Warner/Daily Press/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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The United States Navy had been set to decommission the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) next month. Instead, the oldest active nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will remain in service for another year, at least officially. After 51 years in service, it is unlikely that CVN-68 will take on another deployment.
However, the delivery of the next Gerald R. Ford-class flattop, the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), was delayed until next year, necessitating the availability of USS Nimitz in a pinch.
This is hardly a new problem, and it isn’t isolated to the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carriers. The service is grappling with delays across all of its major shipbuilding programs. Yet the aircraft carriers are the warships that project power around the world, and, simply put, the U.S. doesn’t have enough of them.
Building more would be the obvious solution, but beyond the high costs, the U.S. simply doesn’t have the industrial capacity at the present time.
“The current picture reflects accumulated strain,” warned geopolitical analyst Irina Tsukerman, president of threat assessment firm Scarab Rising.
Tsukerman explained in an email that the was intended to represent a generational transition in carrier capability. The U.S. Navy could do more with fewer carriers. Instead, it has arrived under the familiar American pattern of technological ambition outpacing industrial discipline.
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“USS Gerald R. Ford required years of technical correction after delivery,” Tsukerman added. “USS John F. Kennedy has experienced schedule movement tied to labor shortages and supplier delays.”
The USS Gerald R. Ford faced numerous delays due to the introduction of new and unproven systems. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ridge Leoni/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
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The next ship of the class, CVN-80, is now under construction, and efforts are being made to address past mistakes and delays.
The future USS Enterprise is being built in an environment where the U.S. Navy is seeking to stabilize lessons learned while also preventing workforce drift between ships.
One issue is that the entire structure depends on a single construction yard: Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding, which designs, builds, and refuels the U.S. Navy’s entire fleet of modern carriers.
“HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding is proud to design, build and maintain nuclear-powered aircraft carriers vital to national security. Shipbuilding is a team sport, and we are working diligently with the thousands of aircraft carrier industrial base suppliers to improve delivery timelines,” said Todd T. Corillo, NNS spokesperson, via email.
“NNS improvement initiatives also include investments in workforce, technology, and infrastructure, all of which require a steady and predictable demand signal and associated funding to be successful,” Corillo added.
The Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition has been warning for years about supply chain challenges, a shortage of talent brought on by the graying of the workforce in the nation’s diminishing number of shipyards, and the adoption of new, unproven technology. Moreover, uncertain procurement timelines risk the base losing nuclear-trained labor that cannot be replaced quickly.
To address these issues, the U.S. Navy needs to use the ACIBC more effectively, including ensuring that funding can flow at a steady rate.
“Our immediate focus is on strengthening the existing 2,000-plus member industrial base, which possesses untapped domestic capacity,” said Lisa Papini, the chair of the ACIBC.
“Our survey data shows that less than 10% of suppliers are currently operating at full capacity due to inconsistent demand signals and unpredictable funding,” Papini suggested in an email. “By providing clear and consistent funding, we can unlock this capacity and leverage a domestic industrial base that is 100% committed to delivering America’s maritime dominance.”
The U.S. Navy’s carrier industrial base continues to operate with very little margin. In addition to producing the next generation of supercarriers, it must sustain the U.S. Navy’s existing global fleet. It has resulted in a system that remains narrow, slow, and exposed to disruption.
It requires “a specialized workforce that takes years to develop, a supplier network that struggles to expand quickly, and maintenance schedules that are shaped by the pace of global conflict,” said Tsukerman. “The United States still fields the largest and most capable carrier force in the world. The deeper concern comes from how little buffer exists behind that force. Delays now translate directly into strategic exposure.”
Vendors and suppliers within the ACIBC have called for multi-ship “block buys,” arguing that these are critical to offsetting inflation while contributing to the continued health and future of their respective businesses. The block buys have enabled the U.S. Navy to procure multiple carriers under a single contract rather than ordering them individually.
Supporters of the block buys suggest it could save billions in taxpayer funds by streamlining production. It would allow suppliers to procure long-lead materials in bulk, thereby avoiding annual price fluctuations and potentially securing better deals.
It will also ensure stability at shipyards by offering a more predictable workload allowing for improved planning, more efficient labor allocation, and, notably, the retention of skilled workers as there will be fewer downtimes. Older veterans in the workforce can further train the newer employees along the way.
It also allows for lessons learned during the construction of one warship to be carried onto the next, increasing speed and safety throughout the construction process.
“Consistent, predictable, and stable funding is the most critical factor for the health of the aircraft carrier industrial base,” said Papini. “Whether it’s through block buys or other long-term contractual mechanisms, what our suppliers need most is a clear demand signal that allows them to plan for the future, invest in their facilities, and develop their workforce.”
The ACIBC has noted the advanced procurement funding directed to CVN-82 – the future USS William J. Clinton – in fiscal year 2026.
“As the FY26 funding is placed on contract, it will help rejuvenate production lines and inject much needed stability into the aircraft carrier industrial base,” Papini continued.
The ACIBC’s focus remains on ensuring the 2,000+ businesses represented by the coalition have the resources and stability needed to support all U.S. Navy requirements, from maintaining the existing fleet to building the carriers of the future.
“The incredible global demand for carriers, with over half the fleet deployed in 2025 and nearly every deployment extended, proves we need this industrial base to be as strong and resilient as possible,” said Papini. “We remain in close partnership with the Navy and Congress to ensure our suppliers are ready to meet the nation’s needs for both current readiness and new construction.”
Congress has shown support for the use of block buy contracts, and U.S. lawmakers have been equally committed to maintaining the specialized shipbuilding industrial base that is vital to building the massive warships.
“They want earlier procurement commitment, stable multi-ship buying, workforce protection,” said Tsukerman, “And most importantly, clear fleet size commitments.”
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