The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) has officially begun its complex refueling and overhaul (RCOH) process. The ship has been moved from Naval Station Norfolk to the HII shipyard in Newport News.
Contract Details and Ship History
The United States Navy has established a $5.1 billion contract for this project. The USS Harry S. Truman, which entered service in 1998, has been stationed at its home port in Norfolk since its return from the Middle East in June 2025. During a 251-day deployment, it recorded over 13,000 flights and 25,000 flight hours and is also known for its strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.
Challenges and Progress
The ship has also faced challenges, including a collision with a commercial vessel near the Suez Canal and the loss of two F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters. The Navy considered decommissioning the ship in 2019, but now emphasizes that it is managing the project using a Fixed Ceiling Incentive structure. This method appropriately allocates risks and encourages the shipbuilder's performance to meet required delivery dates.
The Newport News shipyard has received a contract worth $5,099,973,132 for this project. This contract includes options that, if exercised, will increase the total value to $5,183,380,744. This project begins while the Newport News shipyard is completing a similar project for the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), which has been under repair since 2021.
The RCOH process includes refueling the ship's reactors as well as extensive upgrades in thousands of compartments and tanks, and on most of the ship's systems. This project encompasses nearly one-third of the total maintenance and upgrades required over the service life of an aircraft carrier.
This project begins as the United States Navy has also recently announced the initial acceptance of the new USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). This new ship has been transferred to the naval base to undergo final outfitting stages before its official delivery in March 2027.
