Newport News Shipbuilding gets $60.8 million in aircraft carrier funds NEWPORT NEWS, Va., May 7 (UPI) -- Newport News Shipbuilding has received an additional $60.8 million in U.S. Navy funding for preparations to build a new aircraft carrier. The money will be used to purchase long-lead materials and equipment -- such as pumps, controllers and air conditioning systems -- for the John F. Kennedy, for which a construction phase contract is expected this year. "This additional funding helps us keep our momentum in meeting our efficiency objectives," said Mike Shawcross, NNS vice president, CVN 79 construction. We have been working with our suppliers to come up with more affordable ways to procure material for the Kennedy, and this contract modification is an example of implementing some of these initiatives. The future John F. Kennedy is an enhanced Ford class carrier and will feature flight deck changes, improved weapons handling systems and a redesigned island. It will also have improved electrical power generation capacity. Newport News Shipbuilding is a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc.