Ford-class carrier

Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Departs Norfolk for Worldwide Deployment 

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) transits the Atlantic Ocean on March 19, 2023. US Navy Photo

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group left Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday afternoon for its first global deployment, USNI News has learned.

First-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) sailed down the James River into the Atlantic around 3:30 p.m., according to ship spotters.

The deployment of the Ford CSG will operationalize a new series of technologies aboard the carrier, commander Capt. Rick Burgess said...

https://news.usni.org/2023/05/02/aircraft-carrier-uss-gerald-r-ford-departs-norfolk-for-worldwide-deployment

Navy: USS Gerald R. Ford Set to Deploy in May, Kennedy Deployment Schedule Unaffected by Delivery Change  

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) transits the Atlantic Ocean on March 19, 2023. US Navy Photo

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – First-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is set to deploy the first week of May following the completion of a series of certification exercises, service officials said on Tuesday.

Ford returned on Sunday from its composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) that served as a month-long, high-pressure stress test for the carrier, air wing and its escorts ahead of its first world-wide...

https://news.usni.org/2023/04/04/navy-uss-gerald-r-ford-set-to-deploy-in-may-kennedy-deployment-schedule-unaffected-by-delivery-change

Ford Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy to Deliver a Year Late

In this aerial photograph, the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) sits at Pier 3 at Newport News Shipbuilding division. The ship is approximately 76 percent complete and is progressing through final outfitting and testing. Huntington Ingalls Industries photo.

The next Ford-class aircraft carrier will now deliver to the Navy in 2025, one year later than the service’s most recent projection, according to Fiscal Year 2024 budget documents released this week.

The Navy delayed future carrier J...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/23/ford-aircraft-carrier-john-f-kennedy-to-deliver-a-year-late

VIDEO: Navy’s Newest Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Faces Toughest Test Yet

A sailor handling fuel lines on the deck of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) on March 2, 2023. USNI News Photo

ABOARD AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS GERALD R. FORD IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN – The pressure is high and getting higher for the crew of the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier.

Since it was commissioned in 2017, the Navy has slowly excised gremlins from close to two dozen new systems aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78). After five years of faults, troubleshooting and repairs, Carrier Air Wing 8, its...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/11/video-navys-newest-carrier-uss-gerald-r-ford-faces-toughest-test-yet

VIDEO: USS Gerald R. Ford Back in Norfolk After Two Months in the Atlantic

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) returns to Naval Station Norfolk after two months in the the Atlantic Ocean with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG), Nov. 26, 2022. US Navy Photo

First-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is back at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., after a 53-day operational period in the Atlantic, U.S. 2nd Fleet announced on Saturday.

Ford arrived in Norfolk after returning from a port visit to the U.K. last week and exercises with allied nations throughout the North...

https://news.usni.org/2022/11/26/video-uss-gerald-r-ford-back-in-norfolk-after-two-months-in-the-atlantic

Inside Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford’s Two-Month Operational Stress Test

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) steams the Atlantic Ocean during a simulated straits transit with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) in the Atlantic Ocean on Oct. 9, 2022. US Navy Photo

The lifespan of aircraft carriers – anywhere from 50 to 60 years – means Ford will remain in service as new technologies like unmanned air vehicles and weapons like lasers are introduced.

Multiple officials during USNI News’ visit to Ford noted the carrier has room to grow and evolve with these...

https://news.usni.org/2022/10/12/inside-carrier-uss-gerald-r-fords-two-month-operational-stress-test

Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to Embark on Short Cruise Ahead of Full Deployment Next Year

Sailors assigned to the first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and the “Tridents” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 conduct an ammunition onload, Sept. 25, 2022. US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON — Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) will soon leave for a short cruise before heading out on its first deployment next year under the Defense Department’s global force management system.

The upcoming cruise will take the first-in-class Ford throughout the Atlantic Ocean...

https://news.usni.org/2022/09/29/carrier-uss-gerald-r-ford-to-embark-on-short-cruise-ahead-of-full-deployment-next-year

PEO Carriers: USS Gerald R. Ford ‘Fully Delivered’ Ready to Deploy

Distinguished visitors observe flight operations aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), Sept. 17, 2022. US Navy Photo

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Five years after its commissioning, the world’s largest warship is in shape to deploy, the officer who oversees the Navy’s carrier program said last week.

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) quietly reached its initial operating capability in December and has been in workups since completing a six-month repair availability in March following explosive shock trials off...

https://news.usni.org/2022/09/26/peo-carriers-uss-gerald-r-ford-fully-delivered-ready-to-deploy

HII Lays Keel of Future Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise

An artist’s concept of the future carrier Enterprise (CVN-80). DoD Image

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – HII has laid the keel block of the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN-80) on Tuesday, USNI News has learned.

The seventh U.S. warship named after the Revolutionary War sloop, Enterprise formally began fabrication at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding yard in Virginia, Rear Adm. James Downey, the program executive officer for carriers, told USNI News on Tuesday.

The start of fabrication comes three weeks...

https://news.usni.org/2022/04/05/hii-lays-keel-of-future-aircraft-carrier-uss-enterprise

Pentagon Acquisition Chief Nominee Argues Navy Needs Larger, More Survivable Fleet

USS Princeton (CG-59) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG-97) and USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53) steam in formation during a composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX) on May 12, 2020. US Navy Photo

The nominee for the Pentagon’s top acquisition post told the Senate Armed Services Committee today that the Navy needs a larger and more survivable fleet.
“We need more numbers” when it comes to Navy fleet size and “we want survivable; we want strike” for the...

https://news.usni.org/2022/03/22/pentagon-acquisition-chief-nominee-argues-navy-needs-larger-more-survivable-fleet

+ More