CNO: 'Feel good' ship construction

The Navy’s USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier entered the Mediterranean Sea this week and made deployment history, says Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson. Speaking on Capitol Hill at a meeting June 13 of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, CNO provided information about the Navy's two high-profile mission areas – South China Sea and the Middle East. USS Harry S. Truman is in the Middle East. Both are in position to launch airstrikes against Islamic State militants’ targets in Iraq and Syria. As of last week, the Navy has had six aircraft carriers – out of 10 – underway in the past months. CNO called it a "milestone" event. USS John C. Stennis, with more than 75 aircraft aboard, flew some 4,000 sorties in the South China Sea during its seven-month deployment. "Everyone who thinks about and talks about shipbuilding can feel good about that day," Richardson told the Military.com website, but ship construction needs to be faster – less than the 5-and-5 year rule from design to completion - and more innovative. "I think we need to challenge that," CNO said. "We've got to continue to challenge ourselves, or we're just going to fall into this situation where we're not going to be as capable and agile as we need to." (Source: Military.com 06/14/16) Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., is the sole provider of the San Antonio (LPD 17) class of amphibious transport dock ships and America (LHA 7) class of amphibious assault ships for the Navy. Austal USA shipbuilding of Mobile, Ala., builds the Independence variant of Littoral Combat Ship for the Navy.