Overview
- The carrier, which arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard on July 7, began a Planned Incremental Availability to undergo months of maintenance, modernization and a concurrent repair period for spaces damaged by a March 2026 fire.
- This is Gerald R. Ford’s first scheduled availability at a public Navy shipyard and the first time a Ford-class carrier has been serviced at Norfolk, following the ship’s record 326-day deployment that ended in May.
- Norfolk completed advance continuum work while the carrier was at Naval Station Norfolk, including early testing, preparation for temporary service installations, and an overhaul of the jet blast deflector to shorten the main shipyard window.
- Shipyard leaders say they will use a Focus and Finish execution model to limit multitasking, meet strict timelines and position this PIA to become the third consecutive early finish for a carrier availability at Norfolk.
- The availability tests broader Navy reforms to reduce shipyard backlogs and improve fleet readiness by using smaller, planned work windows to return carriers to service faster while restoring advanced systems unique to the Ford class.