According to the Navy, the ship boasts “nearly three times the amount of electrical power” compared to the previous class of carriers.
The USS Gerald Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world, embarked on its first deployment, departing from Norfolk, Virginia, and sailing into the Atlantic.
Despite years of delays and a total cost of $13 billion, the ship is equipped with cutting-edge technologies, including electromagnetic catapults for plane launches and advanced weapons elevators to transport bombs and missiles to the flight deck.
In the book “Peril” authored by Washington Post reporters Robert Costa and Bob Woodward, it is revealed that former President Donald Trump frequently criticized the carrier, expressing concerns over its high cost and the positioning of the flight command center.
“It just doesn’t look right,” he said.
Elaine Luria, the Democratic Representative from Virginia, also criticized the carrier, describing it as a “$13-billion nuclear-powered floating berthing barge.”
The Navy stated in a press release that the ship will participate in military exercises involving approximately 9,000 personnel from nine countries, along with 20 vessels and 60 aircraft.
According to the Navy, this ship marks the first newly designed aircraft carrier in over four decades. Its construction began in 2009, and it was commissioned by Mr. Trump in 2017.
Additionally, work has already commenced on the next two carriers within the Ford category: the USS Kennedy and the USS Enterprise.
The carrier has “nearly three times the amount of electrical power” of the previous Nimitz-class of carriers, the Navy said.
Replacing the previous steam catapult system, the electromagnetic launch system (EMALS) utilizes electric power to launch planes from the carrier. This advanced technology not only reduces stress on the carrier but also significantly shortens the time between launches.
As reported by CNN, an official stated that the USS Gerald Ford is the only forward-class carrier equipped with dual-band radar.
The carrier is scheduled for a deployment in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, with a duration shorter than the usual six-month timeframe.
