New Navy USS Ford Deploys in Mediterranean.. How it Changes Carrier Ops

By Olawale Abaire, Warrior Contributor 

The world of naval aviation is constantly evolving, with the USS Ford at the forefront of this transformation. The USS Ford, officially known as the USS Gerald R. Ford is the lead ship of its class of United States Navy aircraft carriers.

The Ford represents the peak of naval engineering and technological advancement, setting a new standard for what modern carriers can achieve. It highlights a blend of tradition and modernization in naval aviation.

As the lead ship of its class, Ford marks a significant evolution from its predecessors, the Nimitz-class carriers, which ushers in a new era in aviation. As of now, the USS Ford is operating in the Mediterranean Sea.

The USS Ford versus the Nimitz Class

The Ford-class carriers are more automated than their Nimitz prototypes, enabling the Navy to significantly reduce the number of ship’s complement by hundreds. This alone represents a major cost saving.

With a full load displacement of 100,000 tons, the Ford-class carriers match the Nimitz class in size and surpass it in capability and technological sophistication in several key ways:

• Power Generation: The Ford-class carriers have two reactors that generate 600MW of electrical power, three times more than the 200MW generated by the Nimitz class.
• Aircraft Launch and Recovery Systems: One of the most significant advancements about the Ford is its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which replaces the traditional steam catapults used on Nimitz-class carriers.

EMALS allows for a wider range of aircraft to be launched, including lighter unmanned systems, and promises reduced wear on airframes, thereby extending their service life. They also employ the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system, superior to the Nimitz’s system, providing enhanced capability with reduced maintenance and manpower.