Contract for A-carrier goes to Virginia yard

By Compiled From Wire Service Dispatches With Analysis From Monitor Correspondents Around The World; Edited By Anne Collier

November 3, 1982

Washington

The Navy announced the awarding of a $280.9 million contract to Newport News Shipbuilding, a Virginia company, to begin work on the nation's fifth nuclear aircraft carrier.

The contract is for initial procurement of materials. The timing of the announcement was reportedly politically motivated. Military officials said Newport News Shipbuilding is the only US shipyard capable of building vessels as large as a giant nuclear carrier, and has built the Navy's other nuclear carriers.