The U.S. Navy has asked Congress for permission to shift approximately $62.7 million in funds to address issues with its Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier during the post-shakedown availability phase, Defense News reported Wednesday.The service intends to move $30 million in funds for repair and tooling work on the main thrust bearings; $20 million for prolonged PSA phase, parts, labor and additional repairs; and $12.7 million to address technical issues with Advanced Weapon Elevators, according to the request document obtained by the publication.
Those issues emerged during the carrier’s post-delivery trials and that the requested funds are part of the Defense Department’s reprogramming request in June.
The aircraft carrier’s PSA started on Sunday, July 15, and the technology and repair issues prolonged that phase from eight months to a year at the facility of Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division, the Naval Sea Systems Command said in a statement.
