US Navy will position its newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), in Hampton Roads, Naval Station Norfolk, according to Virginia Congressional delegation.
This will provide an additional aircraft carrier to the region until 2018 when the USS Lincoln returns to its home port. In addition the Navy has decided to reverse an earlier decision and will maintain Little Creek as a deep water amphibious port and homeport four amphibious ships at Little Creek through 2020. The delegation worked with the Navy to fund critical infrastructure upgrades for Little Creek, including a $30 million electrical grid upgrade in 2012.
Sen. Tim Kaine, whose advocacy in the Senate Armed Services committee was key to maintaining the Navy’s 11 operational aircraft carrier fleet, said:
Combined with our successful effort last year to restore funding for the refueling and overhaul of the USS George Washington, the Navy’s decision to homeport the USS Gerald Ford in Norfolk is welcome news for Hampton Roads.
This news comes as the result of years of efforts to invest in these facilities.
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Image: US Navy