(Washington, D.C.) Beneath the more visible surface of the USS Ford-class aircraft carriers’ continued journey to deployment and war, there appears to be a concurrent and highly impactful, yet more narrowly focused or specific developmental trajectory lurking below the radar … and that is increasing the Ford-class’ expanding role as an armed warship capable of engaging in heavy maritime combat.
Of course the Ford-class will primarily operate to transport, arm and support its carrier air wing as a massive, power-projecting attack platform, yet at the same time the U.S. Navy seems to be taking special measures to enhance its weapons, defenses and direct-engagement warfare technologies to a greater extent than previous carriers.
U.S. Navy USS Ford Shock Trials
U.S. Navy developers of the emerging USS Ford are making extensive efforts to ensure the new class of carriers is positioned to fend off an entirely new generation of enemy attacks expected to greatly challenge the boundaries of ship defense. During final parts of the Navy’s now complete 18-month Post Delivery Test and Trials phase for the USS Ford, an 18-month war preparation, Ford crew members were asked to fend off high speed incoming attacks such as incoming rockets, attack drones, small boat approaches and other kinds of anticipated threats likely to inform any major confrontation with great power adversaries.
Part of the process includes combat systems qualification testing during which carrier crew members operated weapons during live-fire exercises. Details regarding the weapons engagements suggest that Navy developers are stepping up technical and strategic efforts to arm and equip the Ford class carriers … as warships capable of major maritime combat on the open ocean.
“During the culminating live-fire exercise, the crew destroyed rocket-propelled drones capable of speeds in excess of 600 miles per hour; towed drone units that simulated incoming rockets; and remote controlled, high-speed maneuvering surface targets,” a Navy report on the Ford stated.’
The realities of these kinds of threats are a key element of several variables related to better arming carriers and developing them in a more deliberate and focused way as “warships.” Carriers of tomorrow may not be called upon to simply support air attack missions in a combat environment where maritime and air supremacy are assured. Instead, carriers themselves will need to defend against major power attacks and confront a new sphere of highly sophisticated enemy weapons systems and methods of attack. Incoming enemy anti-ship missiles, attack from aircraft, small boat threats and drone boat attacks are all contingencies carriers may independently need to address to a much greater degree, as they may operate within Carrier Strike Groups to a lesser degree.
USS Ford-class Weapons: Torpedoes & Lasers
While carriers have historically been equipped with various self-defense combat systems, Ford-class developers appear to be taking a more pronounced offensive and defensive weaponry and warfare preparation approach for a platform historically thought of almost purely as an aircraft delivery system or floating airfield.
