The refit of the US Navy’s aircraft carrier, USS John C. Stennis, will take over five years to complete
Another 14 months in the shipyard's hands for the USS John C. Stennis (Source: USN)
The mid-life overhaul and refuelling of the US Navy’s Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia will now take about five and a half years to complete – an extra 14 months than originally planned.
Work on the carrier’s RCOH (Refueling Complex Overhaul) started in 2021 and was due to be completed by August 2025. However, the completion date has now been postponed to October 2026.
According to the USN, the delay in the upgrade and refuelling of the ship is due to problems with the shipyard's workforce and material shortages, which delayed the dry-docking and delivery of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and were exacerbated by restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
