Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier

Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ridge Leoni · Public domain · source
Name	Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier
Caption	The lead ship, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), underway in 2017.
Builders	Huntington Ingalls Industries (Newport News Shipbuilding)
Operators	United States Navy
Class before	Nimitz-class aircraft carrier
Built range	2009–present
In service range	2017–present
Planned	10

Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier. The Gerald R. Ford class is the newest class of supercarrier for the United States Navy, designed to succeed the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. These carriers incorporate advanced technologies, including electromagnetic aircraft launch systems and advanced arresting gear, intended to significantly increase sortie generation rates and reduce lifecycle costs. The class is named after the 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford, who served during World War II on the light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26).

Design and development

The design and development of the class, initially known as the CVN-21 program, began in the 1990s to create a successor to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Key objectives included enhanced warfighting capability, improved efficiency, and reduced manning requirements. The program involved extensive research and development by Naval Sea Systems Command and major contractors like Huntington Ingalls Industries. The design integrates lessons learned from operating the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and leverages new technologies developed under the U.S. Navy's Next Generation Enterprise Network. The lead ship's design was formally approved by the Secretary of the Navy in the early 2000s, setting the stage for construction at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia.

Features and capabilities

The class introduces several revolutionary features, most notably the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which replaces traditional steam catapults, and the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG). These systems, developed by General Atomics, allow for launching and recovering a wider variety of aircraft with less stress on airframes. The redesigned flight deck and island increase sortie rates by over 30% compared to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. The ships are powered by two new A1B nuclear reactors, providing nearly triple the electrical generation capacity to support future systems like directed-energy weapons. Other advancements include the Dual Band Radar and enhanced weapons elevators for faster rearming.

Construction and ships of the class

Construction of the lead ship, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), began at Newport News Shipbuilding in 2009, with its keel laid in November of that year. The ship was christened in 2013 and commissioned into the United States Navy in July 2017 at Norfolk Naval Station. The second ship, USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), had its keel laid in 2015 and was christened in 2019; it is currently undergoing testing. The third, USS Enterprise (CVN-80), began early fabrication in 2017, with a planned keel-laying in 2022. The U.S. Navy plans to build at least ten ships of this class, with USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) as the fourth planned vessel.

Operational history

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) began its post-delivery test and trials phase in 2017, conducting extensive at-sea periods to certify its systems. Its first full-ship shock trials were completed in the Atlantic Ocean in 2021, a major milestone. The carrier conducted its first deployment in 2022, operating with Carrier Strike Group 12 and participating in exercises like Exercise Silent Wolverine with allies in the Atlantic Ocean. During this deployment, it operated with aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Eight, including F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler squadrons, and conducted interoperability training with NATO partners.

Cost and program issues

The program has faced significant cost overruns and technical challenges. The research and development and lead-ship construction costs for USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) grew to over $13 billion, drawing scrutiny from the Government Accountability Office and the United States Congress. Persistent issues with the Advanced Weapons Elevators delayed the ship's initial operational capability. The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Arresting Gear also experienced reliability problems during initial testing. These issues prompted hearings before the House Armed Services Committee and led to a restructuring of the testing program under the direction of the Program Executive Officer, Aircraft Carriers.