# US Navy Signs $418M Deal to Scrap Historic Nuclear Aircraft Carrier The dismantling of USS Enterprise involves a $418.5 million contract. - **Source:** [SlashGear](https://www.slashgear.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-22 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/cc3e1920-9b1c-4be0-887b-05d93bc382ed ## The Legacy of USS Enterprise USS Enterprise (CVN-65), the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, entered service in 1961. It participated in the Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and numerous other operations. It was deactivated in 2012 and officially retired in 2017. ## The Dismantling Process A $418.5 million contract was signed with NorthStar Maritime Dismantlement Services LLC for the dismantling of USS Enterprise. The process involves cutting the ship into sections and disposing of hazardous materials. The project is expected to be completed by 2030. ## Removal of Nuclear Fuel The first step in the dismantling process was the removal of the ship's nuclear fuel. This complex process could sometimes take up to 30 months. Even after the fuel was removed, the reactors still needed to be disposed of. ## Disposal of Radioactive Materials NorthStar faces the challenging task of disposing of radioactive residues on the ship. Safely handling these materials is one of the most critical and risky phases of the dismantling process. ## Cutting the Ship into Sections NorthStar will divide the ship into sections to handle each area separately. During this process, pipes, wiring, plating, and other materials will be recycled or disposed of. ## Enterprise's Legacy Lives On Some of USS Enterprise's steel will be reused for its successor, USS Enterprise (CVN-80). This means the historic ship will, in a sense, continue to live on. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.slashgear.com/2220459/uss-enterprise-nuclear-aircraft-carrier-northstar-scrap-deal/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._