VIDEO: Newport News lands new radar tower during CVN 73 RCOH

USS George Washington is the sixth Nimitz-class ship to undergo refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) and the first to have its new radar tower installed as one complete structure instead of two individual units

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 — With the recent landing of its modernized radar tower, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) has completed about 25 percent of its refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE:HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division.

USS George Washington is the sixth Nimitz-class ship to undergo this major life-cycle milestone and the first to have its new radar tower installed as one complete structure instead of two individual units.

“This is a significant engineering, planning and construction improvement,” said Chris Miner, Newport News’ vice president, in-service aircraft carrier programs. “This lift was the result of our  efforts to harness the use of technology, including visual work instructions that allowed us to increase efficiency and productivity. We look forward to continuing to work with our Navy customers to improve our RCOH processes.”

The RCOH began under a planning contract in August 2017 and includes the refueling of the ship’s reactors as well as extensive modernization to more than 2,300 compartments, 600 tanks and hundreds of systems. In addition to the radar tower structure, major upgrades will be made to the island house, flight deck, catapults, combat systems and the island.

The overhaul is expected to be completed in late 2021.