Newport News Shipbuilding breaks ground for new facility: Newport News Shipbuilding has broken ground for a Joint Manufacturing Assembly Facility that will support the construction of aircraft carriers and submarines.
Initial phases of the facility, due to open 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," Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin said.
Work at the new facility will bring work indoors and feature multiple worksites, advanced technology, automated equipment, heavyweight cranes, large transportation doors and specialty paint bays.
