By Kris Osborn, President, Warrior Maven
(Washington DC) The US Navy’s Ford-class carriers have had a long and arduous journey coming into existence going back many years, yet they have progressively and slowly blasted their way through a cloud of difficulty, technological challenges and developmental setbacks to successfully deploy with force.
The primary challenge with the Ford class’ development goes back many years and relates to technological maturity, cost and timeline. Years ago, many observers and members of Congress argued that the Ford-class enterprise was far too ambitious and expensive to favor success, yet the Navy stayed the course.
As far back as 10-years ago, earlier in the development of the Ford, the Navy explained that some of the costs were non-recurring research and technology costs necessary for a first-in-class platform. The Navy emphasized that, due to increased computer automation, energy efficiency and advanced technologies, the service would save as much as $4 billion per carrier throughout the life of the ship,
USS Ford deployed at Sea
Now that the USS Ford has completed successful deployments, many are likely inclined to take a retrospective look at the merits of the new technologies built into the system. There were massive growing pains to be certain, yet the Ford class has emerged with breakthrough, paradigm-changing technology which arguably ushers in a new era of Naval warfare.
There are several key primary areas of paradigm-changing technology built into the Ford, to include new applications of computer automation, an electromagnetic catapult, unprecedented levels of on-board power generation, a larger flight deck and electric elevators for faster and more efficient refueling and re-arming.
The larger flight deck on the Ford allows for a 33-percent increase in sortie rate, an increase in air power projection supported by a long-in-development Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALs). Using a roller-coaster-like electromagnetic current to catapult catapult aircraft, the EMALS replaces historic steam catapults. This enables a smoother, faster and steadier take off and landing.
A Long Technological Journey
Years ago, developers told Warrior that with EMALS, fighter jet take off would be less like a “shot-gun” type of approach supported by steam catapult but instead launch with a much steadier, progressively increasing surge of power to ensure a more stable take-off. This not only allowed for faster, steadier and more successful launches but also reduced wear and tear on the airframes of fighter jets.
While EMALS is now operational and considered to be a successful breakthrough, the technology took years to develop and encountered developmental setbacks. A similar situation developed with the Ford-class electric elevators, as they encountered technological difficulties while developing. However, the electric elevators massively streamline re-arming and refueling fighter aircraft, something which enables a faster, larger and more impactful projection of air power.
Computer Automation
Yet another area of breakthrough progress with the Ford-class relates to on-board electrical power. Of course more electrical power has been needed on the Ford-class to support EMALS, new computing and a growing number of weapons systems and command and control technologies. Four 26 megawatt generators enable the Ford to operate with as much as 104 Megawatts of on board power. This is quite significant, particularly given the fact that Ford-carriers now operate with an on-board drone-focused command and control system requiring new amounts of electrical power. Additional electrical power also support the continued development of communications technology and layered ship defenses.
Alongside the USS Ford’s success, some of the technological growing pains are continuing, at least according to a recent DOT&E report which cited problems with the ship’s cutting edge dual-band radar. An essay on Yahoo reports that findings from the assessment revealed some radar-coverage challenges, indicating the radar might need to be replaced. The scope of this problem, and the pace at which it can be rectified appear lesser known and may not imperil Ford’s continued progress.
A recent essay in Army Recognition lends additional evidence in support of the Ford-class’ continued successful technological development, as it explains that the Navy’s 2025 budget plans include strong levels of continued funding for the Ford-class.
As part of the advanced technological systems woven into the USS Ford, computer automation has enabled the ship to operate with roughly 900-fewer sailors by virtue of performing functions which historically needed human operators, This saves money and streamlines overall efficiency on the ship.
Overall, the integration of these and other new technologies are now deployed with operational success on the USS Ford, a reality which suggests that the many developmental obstacles may have ultimately yielded an extremely positive result. With the Ford-class, the US Navy can now successfully project greater amounts of power on a larger scale, fortified by new generations of maritime warfare technology.
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University
