higher resolution image Northrop Grumman was awarded a $197 million contract from the U.S. Navy for maintenance work on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). [U.S. Navy Photo]

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Aug. 27, 2004 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) was awarded a contract modification from the U.S. Navy valued at approximately $197 million for maintenance work on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). This work follows more than a year of advance planning efforts conducted under the contract awarded last summer. Northrop Grumman's Newport News sector is the prime contractor for this award.

“Because of our long history with Enterprise, dating back to her delivery in 1961, we often refer to her as ‘our ship,’” said Bob Gunter, senior vice president for Aircraft Carriers at Northrop Grumman Newport News. “And we are uniquely qualified to perform work on this one-of-a-kind carrier – a ship we built and have kept defense-ready for more than four decades.”

Enterprise arrives at the Newport News shipyard in early September for approximately nine months of maintenance work. Work will include modernizations to the F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft equipment and weapons stowage systems; enhancements to crew living areas; repairs and inspections on a variety of ship systems; and scheduled maintenance on propulsion plant systems.

Enterprise is the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the only ship of its class. It was built by Northrop Grumman Newport News and joined the U.S. Navy's fleet in 1961. Enterprise was last at the Newport News shipyard in 1999. The company also performed scheduled maintenance work on the ship in 2002 at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va.

Northrop Grumman Newport News, headquartered in Newport News, Va., is the nation's sole designer, builder and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of only two companies capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines. Newport News also provides after-market services for a wide array of naval and commercial vessels. The Newport News sector employs about 19,000 people.

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