August 4, 2017

The U.S. Navy’s sixth aircraft carrier, USS George Washington, is set to arrive at Newport News Shipbuilding on Friday to begin its four-year mid-life refit after 25 years of service.

This was announced by Newport News Shipbuilding president Jennifer Boykin who said the company had been working under a planning contract for almost three years and recently signed an agreement to begin execution work.

During the refit, also known as refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH), and the follow-on outfitting period, nearly all combat systems equipment on the carrier will be refurbished, upgraded or replaced with newer technology.

The ship will receive upgraded weapons systems; to include Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM), Evolved NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System, Close-In Weapons System (CIWS), Mk-38 25mm automatic gun systems, and anti-torpedo defense systems.

Consolidated afloat networks and enterprise services (CANES) will become the new ship-wide network, which will include a new video distribution and surveillance systems, and the mast and the SPN-49 radar tower will be cut off and replaced with a modern design.

Announcing the arrival of CVN 73, Boykin added that major upgrades will be also performed on the aircraft launch and recovery systems.

USS George Washington follows in the footsteps of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) which was redelivered to the navy in May this year, after spending four years in the same shipyard undergoing RCOH.