Northrop has been awarded a cost-plus-incentive-fee contract extension for continuation of work on the US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, CVN 79.

As per the terms of the $323.6m contract, Northrop will continue to work on ship design activities, and procurement of long-lead-time materials to support construction and advanced construction work on selected parts of the ship.

The unnamed CVN 79 is the second ship of the new Gerald R Ford Class, which will continue the legacy of US Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ship platforms.

The carrier ship design incorporates enhancements that include flight deck changes, improved weapons handling systems, a redesigned island, new nuclear power plants and increased electrical power generation capacity.

Northrop’s Shipbuilding sector in Newport News will be the prime contractor.